Page 91 of Twilight Longings

He nodded, his gaze moving to the pulse throbbing in her throat. Her blood sang to him, the warmth of her body against his fired his longing to take her to bed.

“Rylan?”

“I want you.”

She frowned at him, troubled by the faint red glow in his eyes, the growl in his voice. “Are you all right?”

He ran his knuckles along the side of her neck. “I need you, Kadie. Let me.”

There was something wrong, she thought, as he swept her into his arms and carried her down to his lair. She wondered,briefly, why she always thought of it that way.Hislair. Even when she’d been a vampire, she had thought of it that way.

He placed her gently on the bed, his eyes hot as he undressed her. He shed his own clothing quickly, then slid in beside her and drew her into his arms.

“Rylan, what’s wrong?”

“Can’t a man want his wife?”

‘Yes, but—”

He covered her mouth with his, silencing her. She was suddenly afraid of him. His tongue plundered her mouth, his hands played over her body, his touch forceful but not painful. He whispered to her, words in a language she didn’t understand as he aroused her to fever pitch. There was no gentleness in him, though he never hurt her. And when he took her, she had the feeling he was angry with her, though she didn’t know why.

She sighed when she felt the sting of his fangs at her throat, let out a startled cry when he drank. And drank. Merciful heavens, was he going to take it all?

“Rylan! Rylan, stop!” She pounded her fists on his back, raked her nails down his cheeks.

With a low growl, he withdrew from her and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his back toward her, his whole body vibrating with the desperate need to make her what he was, to keep her beside him until the end of time.

Panting, her heart pounding wildly, Kadie stared at him. Did she dare touch him? Ask him again what was wrong?

“I’m sorry.” His voice was rough.

“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Kadie. I just got carried away.” He plowed his fingers through his hair. “I haven’t taken a life in a long time. Sometimes … I’m sorry. Itwon’t happen again.” When he was in control of his emotions, he turned to face her. “Forgive me?”

She nodded, though she still looked apprehensive. Well, who the hell could blame her?

“Is it all right if I hold you?”

Kadie nodded again. She didn’t know what had just happened, but whatever demon had been driving him was gone, and the man she knew and loved more than anything in the world was back.

Saintcrow sighed with relief when he took her in his arms and she didn’t flinch.

With luck, she would never know how close he had come to forcing the change on her.

“Rylan, are you sure you’re all right?” Three days had passed since he’d acted so strangely. To Kadie’s knowledge, he hadn’t gone hunting since then. Was something physically wrong with him? Was that why he had acted so … strange wasn’t really the right word. He’d scared her badly and she had no idea what had caused his odd behavior.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“You haven’t gone hunting in days, have you?”

“No.”

“Why not?” She knew ancient vampires didn’t need to feed as often as the others, but he had hunted most nights simply because he enjoyed it.

“I heard from Izabela a few days ago.”

“You did? When? Why didn’t you tell me?”