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She melted into Rylan’s arms when he drew her closer, her eyelids fluttering down as his mouth claimed hers in a soul-searing kiss that drove every doubt, every other thought from her mind but her desire to satisfy the need burning in his eyes, the same longing coursing through her like a river of fire, crying for his touch to put out the flames.

Reading her thoughts, he transported the two of them down to his lair.

A thought removed their clothing and then they were lying side-by-side in their bed and he was kissing her, caressing her, as if he would never let her go.

Her hands were as eager as his as they explored each other as enthusiastically as if it was the first time.

“Kadie, Kadie,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “You have no idea how much I missed you, your laughter, your smile. Your warmth. Holding you, kissing you.” His fingertips moved over her lips. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“Never,” she whispered, her hands grasping his shoulders as he rose over her and carried her away.

Kadie studied the envelope in her hand. It was addressed to her, but there was no return address. Who could be writing to her? No one knew she was here. Only one way to find out, she thought, as she slid her thumb under the flap.

Kadie ~

You are cordially invited to a party in your honor tonight at 9 p.m. at the hotel.

Dress casual.

Rosa

Kadie smiled as she read the invite a second time.

She had been so caught up remembering her past, getting to know Rylan all over again in the most intimate ways, she had given little thought to the rest of the family.

What to wear? Thanks to Rylan’s generosity over the years, she had a very large wardrobe in the closet down in the lair.

In the past, she had only to admire a dress, a hat, a pair of shoes, a coat, and the next time she looked in her closet, it was there.

It got to the point that if she looked at something twice, it was hers.

And he was still that way, she thought, remembering how he had insisted on taking care of her when she couldn’t even remember who he was and after the curse was broken.

She would go down and pick out something later, she decided, so as not to wake the very sexy vampire sleeping in her bed.

Saintcrow rose late in the afternoon. His senses told him Kadie was in the kitchen making cookies and that she was unusually excited about something.

He let his mind brush hers. Ah. Rosa was giving a party to celebrate Kadie’s recovery.

He grunted softly. That should be some party, he mused.

No dinner, no dessert, just a variety of red wines to toast Kadie’s good health.

He considered buying a cake but decided against it, thinking it would only embarrass Kadie when no one else could eat it.

He showered and dressed, his thoughts, as always, on Kadie.

How would it affect their relationship if she decided she’d rather not be a vampire again?

Unlike most vampires, he didn’t need to rest during the day.

But he could never give her what she wanted most of all—a baby.

He had no desire for a child, but he supposed they could adopt one if it would make her happy.

As far as he knew, it had worked out well for Ethan and Sofia.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stared at the wall.

A baby in the house would certainly change things.

Selfish creature that he was, he didn’t want to share Kadie’s love with anyone else, especially not with a child that wasn’t his.

Damn . But he would make the sacrifice for his Kadie.

After all, the kid would leave home after eighteen or twenty years.

He could put up with it that long. As for Kadie, she had been twenty-four when he met her. Physically, she was still twenty-four.

What if she never wanted to become a vampire again? She would age. Eventually, he would lose her.

How would he live without her? He couldn’t. The months when she had been lost to him had proven that. He couldn’t go through that hell again.

He shook off his morbid thoughts when he heard her footsteps in the tunnel.

“Hey!” Kadie said, hurrying through the door. “Guess what? We’ve been invited to a party.”

Feigning ignorance, he said, “A party?”

Sitting beside him, she handed him the invitation. “You want to go, don’t you?”

“Sure.” He smiled at her enthusiasm. Kadie had always gotten along with everyone.

“I got in touch with my sister while you were resting,” she said, with a smile. “She’s doing fine. They finally found a cure for what ailed her. Maybe we could go visit her one of these days.”

Saintcrow nodded. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

Kadie put her arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Rylan. You’ve always been so good to me. Even when I hated you.”

“I don’t think you ever hated me, Kadie, darlin’. You just thought you should.”

She looked up at him and laughed. Maybe he was right. “Can I ask you something?”

“You know you can ask me anything.” Here it comes, he thought. The question he’d been dreading.

“If I decide to stay human for a while, could we adopt a baby?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“But you don’t.”

“I won’t lie to you. The truth is, I’d rather not. But if it will make you happy, then I’ll do my best to be supportive. I know how much it means to you.”

Kadie blew out a sigh, then rested her head on his shoulder again. “Never mind. It was just an idea.”

“Kadie—”

“Just forget it. It won’t work unless it’s what we both want.”

“Dammit, Kadie … don’t do this. I’ll love the kid because you do. And I’ll be the best father I can. You gave up your chance to be a mother to stay with me. I won’t deprive you of the opportunity now.”

“Rylan, I can’t ask it of you. I won’t.”

“Look at me, darlin’. I’ve lived a long, long time. I think I can put up with a kid for eighteen years or so. I love you, Kadie. I know this is important to you, and that makes it important to me.”

She looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“I said it, didn’t I? Have I ever denied you anything?”

“Just my freedom years ago.”

“Are you ever gonna forgive me for that?”

“No. I’m going to thank you.” Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed him down on the bed. “I’m going to thank you for making me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Oh?”

She grinned at the evidence of his arousal. “I see you already know what my thank you entails.”

“I’m hoping.” Falling back on the mattress, he pulled her down on top of him. “When you’re done giving me your thanks,” he said, a thought whisking their clothes away, “maybe I’ll give you a thank you of my own.”

“Oh, yes,” she whispered, breathless with anticipation. “Please do.”

They were a few minutes late to the party. Kincaid threw Saintcrow a knowing grin when they arrived. “About time you got here,” he said. “Rosa was going to call you, but I talked her out of it.”

“I appreciate that.”

Kadie glanced around the room. Everyone was there—Ethan and Sofia, Micah and Holly, Rosa and Jake. All the people she considered her family. All vampires. The women all gathered around her, hugging her, telling her how worried they had been, how happy they were that she had recovered.

“What are you going to do now?” Holly asked.

“Are you going to ask Saintcrow to turn you again?” Sofia queried.

“I’m not sure,” Kadie replied. “We’re thinking of adopting a baby.”

“Really?” Sofia exclaimed. “That’s wonderful. It’s been a while since we had a baby in the family.”

“It’s not definite yet,” Kadie said. “Is it hard, Sofie, raising a child in a vampire household?”

Sofia shrugged. “Not really. At least not now. Jenny is still too young to be trusted with the truth. I’m not sure how we’ll explain that her parents are vampires when she’s old enough to understand. But we still have a few years to figure that out.”

Kadie glanced over at Saintcrow, wondering what the men were talking about.

He met her gaze and winked at her just as Kincaid exclaimed, “A baby? Kadie wants a baby?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “That’s what she says.”

“Holy hell. Do you think that’s a good idea, what with Luca still on the loose?”

Saintcrow shrugged. “She was so excited by the idea, I never thought about Luca, but you’re right. This is definitely not a good time.” He blew out a sigh. He hated to disappoint Kadie, but a baby would have to wait, at least for a while.