Page 83 of Twilight Longings

“Not here,” Saintcrow warned.

Eleni rose to her feet. “Midnight,” she hissed, and stalked out of the restaurant.

“Kadie, Kadie, why the hell did you have to provoke her?”

“I didn’t mean to. But she made me so mad! Oh. Oh! I’m so sorry. She’ll make you pay for it, won’t she?”

He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry? Don’t worry?” Kadie fisted her hands on her hips. “You’re going off to some rendezvous with another woman and you’re telling me not to worry?”

“Kadie, sweetheart, calm down.”

She bit back her retort when she realized people were staring at them. “I’m not hungry anymore,” she said, pushing away from the table. “Let’s go.”

Saintcrow suggested a movie, hoping it would give Kadie something else to think about. Since she’d left her lunch untouched, he bought her a bag of popcorn, a candy bar and a Coke. When the movie was over, Kadie was hungry again, so they stopped at a fast-food place for a burger, fries, and a malt.

It was after eight when they got home. When Kadie left the room, Saintcrow called Kincaid. “I need your blood tonight. Can you meet me at Izabela’s around eleven?”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Eleni gave me an ultimatum.”

“That can’t be good.”

“No shit. I’ll see you at Izabela’s. Don’t be late.”

Saintcrow looked up when Kadie padded into the room. She had changed into a pair of lavender leggings and a white tank top that showed off every delectable curve. He patted the cushion beside him.

“What do you want, I wonder?” she asked, with a teasing smile.

“Just you.”

“Uh-huh.” Sitting beside him, she tilted her head to the side and swept her hair out of the way.

“You know me all too well.” He slid his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer. Her eyelids fluttered down ashe bit her ever so gently. He didn’t take much, but he felt the warmth of it flow through him. He ran his tongue over the tiny wounds. “I love you.”

“I know.” She gazed into his eyes. “Are you going to make love to that woman?”

“It won’t be love.”

“I don’t care what you call it. I can’t stand the thought of you being with her.”

“I’m not crazy about the idea, either, believe me. I’ll do my best to talk her out of it, but if I can’t … Kadie, it’s your life at stake, not mine.”

“I don’t care!”

His gaze caressed her. “I care.”

“Isn’t there somewhere we can hide that she can’t find us?”

“I’m afraid not. Whether I’m vampire or human, she has the power to find me wherever I go.”

“It’s not right! It’s not fair! What if you give in to her once? What’s to stop her from demanding that you … you do it again? And again? I know you’re doing what you think is right, but what if it never stops?”

He held Kadie close while she cried. He longed to make love to her, but it didn’t seem right, not when there was a chance his sire would force him to do her bidding.

After he dried Kadie’s tears, he kissed her tenderly and then, using his preternatural power, he lulled her to sleep.