Chapter 3

Pillow Talk

 

Danielle was awakened when she felt a pressure on her mouth. Like a hand covering it. Ethan had done that to her before, but he wasn’t allowed to come to her room any longer. So she knew it couldn’t be him.

Her eyes flew open and she blinked. Her vision hadn’t quite focused, but she could clearly see a man leaning over her. His face was only half-lit by the moonlight filtering though her windows. Although blurred and in shadow, it was enough for her to recognize him … Alex. The vampire who’d tried his magic on her at the ball. Danielle snapped her eyes shut before they focused. With his magic at full-strength, he was dangerous to her now, especially his eyes.

And for the short moment that she did see them, she realized, with horror, that he was thirsty. What should have been a lighter shade of hazel was now a glowing shade of silver. Danielle pinched her eyes more tightly closed. How could he get in here when there was suppose to be a guard protecting her?

“Hello, Danielle, it’s a pleasure to see you again.” Although his tone was light, friendly even, a sense of foreboding accompanied the voice which drifted over her.

“I’m going to remove my hand now, but I recommend that you do not scream. I could easily stop you. Hence, it would be completely futile to attempt it.” There was no hesitation as he lifted his hand, proving his egotistical confidence in the threat.

Danielle could feel his movement as he leaned closer and rested his hand on the other side of her body.

After swallowing, Danielle said in the calmest tone she could muster, “Why are you here, and what do you want?”

“I’m your guard tonight. I’m filling in for Cedric,” he informed her, sounding bored now.

“The others don’t bother me while I’m sleeping ... and you still didn’t tell me what it is you want!” Gentle fingers landed on her lips for speaking too loudly.

“Softly please,” he warned.

She jerked her head away from his touch in answer. Inside Danielle was beginning to panic. If he was guarding her, then she was trapped alone with a thirsty vampire. She really wanted to scream. Facing an opponent blind was so unnerving.

A curled finger caught the edge of her chin and forced her face back to his. “I’m afraid this cure of yours is a problem. For many of us. I’ve been sent to end it.”

What did he mean by that? Was he going to kill her? Turn her? “I don’t understand.”

“You’re the one responsible.”

“That’s stupid!” she shouted too loudly and wasn’t able to say, I’m nothing special. Any mortal could do it, because his hand prevented it.

Alex kept her mouth covered this time, his fingers biting into her cheek as he continued in a lazy tone of speech, “I am fond of you, however, and I do think you’re pretty, so let me make this pleasant, shall we?” The cruel touch softened, turned into something like a caress before lifting and then trailing along the side of her face. Danielle shuddered reflexively, and her insides twisted with revulsion.

“Make what pleasant?” she managed, squeezing her eyes shut tighter. It was so tempting to look, to try and read his expression.

“You must die, of course,” he said, like he was talking about taking her to lunch. “Don’t worry, I’ll make certain you won’t feel ... much. Now how should we begin? Would you like a kiss or two, first?”

That creepy invitation made her stomach twist uncomfortably. “I feel like I need to vomit now. Would you please just get out?” she whispered frostily as a shudder traveled the length of her body.

Danielle was trying to remain brave, and resist any feelings of fear because she knew that would only aggravate his thirst. He’d be able to sense fear. But her words had clearly offended him, and his inviting tone changed to an ominous one. “Well, if you’re not going to be any fun, then maybe you’ll just have to sate my thirst for me.”

Beon’s warnings of war took on a whole new meaning at that point. She knew she hadn’t been taking it seriously before, before she truly believed it could actually mean her death. Desperate, she snapped, “You’ll never get away with it! Get out you repulsive, sick—” His hand returned.

“I would advise you to watch your tongue, Miss Darcey. You are in no position to insult me and get away with it.” With that he suddenly jumped onto her bed landing his knees on either side of her. She heard a popping sound as he apparently ripped the first button undone on her pajama top and slid the silky fabric from her shoulder, getting the collar out of the way. The better to bite her, she was sure. Danielle attempted to scream, but his palm easily hushed the noise.

She had to fight harder; she’d be dead in seconds if she didn’t. Danielle kicked her legs and screamed under his palm. She lifted her hips trying to shove him off that way. She beat at him with her fists, and clawed at him. She knew karate techniques to get out of this situation, but nothing worked. She couldn’t budge him. And there was nothing more frustrating than being a black belt and still feeling helpless.

Danielle opened her eyes to gauge his position over her, but she was careful to avoid his spellbinding gaze. Sharp fangs were exposed as he scoffed at her struggles, and the wicked grin on his handsome face grew because he obviously enjoyed the fact that she was trying to fight him.

Alex soon made a sound of irritation, however, and grasped one of her attacking hands, holding it firmly to the bed, while he kept her silent with the other.

“I could have made this pleasurable for you, Danielle, but you’ve made your choice.” Because she was looking, she was aware of what he was about to do only a millisecond before he did. His stifling breath fanned across her nose and mouth. Luckily, she’d cut the air off to her lungs before that. She’d been able to resist Ethan’s magic. Their spiritual connection gave her an advantage when it came to him alone, but she knew she’d fail against Alex’s magic. She’d already learned at the ball that the supernatural power of other vampires was too strong to fight off. It would make her weak and easily defeated. She couldn’t allow that potion into her lungs. She had to keep fighting. She had to remain alert.

“I can wait until you need to breathe again, my dear. You can’t hold your breath indefinitely.” Clearly, he wanted her to be still while he drained the life from her.

Alex then waited for her to gasp for air, knowing she would be forced to do it at some point. He was right, of course. After a couple of minutes Danielle couldn’t fight the natural need for oxygen any longer. Alex was ready for that and he added his powerful breath to her needed air.

Danielle fell limp as the magic flew into her lungs and crept through her veins. Her breathing became labored and she was paralyzed. Her already moist eyes now overflowed with forlorn tears. The droplets slipping down along her temples and into her hair were the only sign that she didn’t want this. Inside, the mental battle had begun. The logical part of her did not want this, while the other part, because of the magic in the curse, made her wish to feel his fangs sink into her flesh, made her welcome death.

Alex took her chin and tipped her head to the side, then slid his long fingers along the veins in her neck probably to select the best location to bite her. He took his time with it, savoring his meal it seemed. Danielle felt his tongue glide over the chosen vein with one long stroke. Gross! she thought, and shuddered involuntarily, yet, knowing it was illogical, she also wished he’d just get to it.

Is this it? Her soul screamed for Ethan, for anyone to help her. She prayed to God desperately, but any hope she had left was slipping away. Helpless and alone with beloved relatives only a few steps away she let her longing for life slide through her fingers as easily as a handful of sand.

As Danielle surrendered to her fate, sudden movement caught her eye near the other window. A large figure was blocking the moonlight that had been the only illumination to her room. Another vampire? Alex saw him too because he lifted his head from her neck to look.

Danielle recognized him then. Max! And his presence was a miracle. Thank you, God, for sending a knight! But, because of the spell, she also thought, Although, I’d be just as pleased if Alex would finish what he started. Internally, she continued to wrangle with herself, and the only physical reaction she could give was to sigh weakly.

Max threw one solid fist into Alex’s face. With the force, Alex was hurled to the floor, but he wasn’t injured. He leapt to his feet like a ninja and readied himself to take on Max. But Max was much stronger than him. He wrapped his steely arms around Alex and dove with him through one of the open windows. They hurtled head first to the ground below. Danielle could hear the fight continue in the garden as they threw fists at each other—but then—she was startled to hear another noise directly outside the window. She watched with an odd mixture of dread and hope, anticipating another monster to crawl through it.

A shadow stumbled clumsily over the windowsill and then tumbled to the floor.

“Danielle,” he whispered, rising to his feet as he brushed leaves from his clothes.

Ethan! She wondered how he’d climbed to her window without much to hold onto. No matter how much she wanted to die, she was relieved to see him moving toward her and attempted a smile.

After jerking the blankets off, Ethan scooped her up from the bed. He cradled her limp form in his arms just as he’d done when they faked her death, and sat down on the edge of the mattress.

“Are you all right? Did he bite you?” he asked, his tone thick with worry as he examined her neck for any visible wounds.

She couldn’t speak.

“Blink once if you’re all right.”

Danielle blinked and attempted another smile. She was okay; she was more than okay now.

He refastened the button she’d thought had broken and wound his arms around her, tugging her into a tighter embrace. Ethan rocked her as he began whispering words of comfort, and patted her back gently. She thought maybe he did it to soothe himself as much as her.

The effect of the spell was slowly wearing off, and Danielle was able to lift her hands to his back and turn her nose into his shoulder. Inhaling, she drew his sweet, familiar essence into her recovering lungs.

“I’m so sorry. The others trust Alex. He’s even a member of the Order, and I’m sure Cedric had no idea he was capable of this. But when I heard Alex had stepped in for Cedric, I insisted Max bring me here immediately,” Ethan explained in a hushed voice.

“Thank you,” she said barely audibly.

Danielle felt secure now, but it seemed Ethan was still distressed. He pulled away enough to look into her face. “Danielle?” His eyes glistened with emotion and reflected panic. “Did he … touch you? Did he try to do more than just bite you?”

A shudder ran up the length of her spine. The thought of Alex … was horribly disturbing to her, and she couldn’t stop the trembling and tears from returning. Plus, she’d almost died, and even more distressing was how much she’d actually wanted that.

But knowing what Ethan was thinking, Danielle wanted to help him understand that it was okay, she was fine. Shaken, but fine. However, she was still under the influence of the magic, which didn’t help as she began trying to explain what happened. “He … he said … he’d make it pleasant, but I—”

“I’ll kill him,” he bit out as a murderous flame blazed to life in his gaze.

“Ethan … no…” She fought to push the magical mist from her mind. “No … he didn’t touch me. I insulted him. He became angry and then Max—”

“I’m still going to kill him.” Somehow, he’d managed to push the threat out between pinched teeth.

“But you’re mortal!” She shook her head, trying to shake off the spell completely. “You’ll just get hurt! Ethan, we’re both helpless.”

He closed his eyes and fisted one hand into his hair. “I can’t take this anymore. You should always be with me. I can no longer trust others to care for you.”

Danielle jumped when Max suddenly bounded back through the open window.

“Come on, Ethan, we need to go.”

“No!” Danielle said, but with too much volume. She may have woken Brianna with that outburst, but she was growing frantic, she didn’t want Ethan to leave and go looking for Alex. Not to mention his presence was comforting for her as the reality of what nearly happened sank in.

Max frowned as he glanced toward the closed door. “The others are stirring. There’s been too much commotion in here. We need to get out of sight.”

Neither Danielle nor Ethan moved.

After exhaling a groan, Max then moved at vampire speed to clear the room before the others came in. He shut the windows. He pried Danielle’s grip from Ethan, set her in the bed, and pulled the sheets over her. Grabbed Ethan by the arms and shoved him in the closet. Snatched up her school books and set them in a disheveled pattern on the floor next to the corner of her bed, pointed at them, and said, “You kicked these off in your sleep by mistake.” He then disappeared into the closet with Ethan. He’d actually moved around the room so fast that he created a draft that tossed Danielle’s hair across her face when he disappeared.

Only seconds later her bedroom door opened.

“Danielle, are you all right? I’ve heard some thumping noises, and I thought I heard voices.” It was Brianna.

Danielle sighed while pushing her hair out of the way. She kept disturbing her family in the middle of the night, and she realized, they just might send her home early for causing lack of sleep. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left my books on the end of my bed. I kicked them off while I was sleeping … and I think I was talking in my sleep again. All is well.” At least the part about her being sorry was true. She still hated lying. The guilt twisted her insides every time.

“Okay, ’night then,” Brianna said.

“’Night, Bri.”

Her cousin shut the door and Danielle watched as Ethan and Max stepped out of her closet. Ethan tried to go back to her, but Max caught his arm. “We really need to leave,” the knight said sternly.

“Max, I’m not leaving her.”

“You can’t stay here. You won’t be able to hear if they’re coming to check on her. You’ll get caught, and then they won’t let you continue to see her.”

“She’s not a child—”

“Not according to her uncle, or me, or you, for that matter.”

Danielle winced at that. Did Ethan really see her has a child? She knew her uncle did, and of course so did Max. It was no wonder really, especially with him being over six hundred years old, but Ethan....

“Stay with us. Please,” Ethan petitioned, obviously ignoring the comments about her age, or perhaps trying to distract her from it.

“Ethan, you’re asking—” The knight shook his head, his thick brows furrowed.

“Max, please. Please,” Danielle begged.

Apparently he held a soft spot for her as she thought she recognized regret in his expression. “Fine,” he snapped. “But only for tonight.”

“Thank you,” she and Ethan chorused.

After a moment of silence, Danielle asked, “Max?” She leaned up onto one elbow to look at him.

“Yes, Danielle.” He was seated in the soft chair situated near the fireplace in her room with his arms folded across his chest. He kept his chin down, avoiding eye contact.

“Thank you—for saving me.”

Danielle felt Ethan slipping into the bed with her, and the weight of one arm moved around her waist.

“You’re very welcome, my lady, it was my pleasure.” Then he mumbled something under his breath, and again, he sounded angry.

“What did you say?” she asked.

Max sighed and then repeated himself loud enough for her to hear this time. “‘Hon Y Soit Quit Mal Y Pense.’” He paused, smiled at her with half-closed eyes and translated, “‘Shame to him who evil thinks.’ It’s the motto for the Order of the Garter.”

“Oh, I like that.”

Max lifted his feet to the ottoman.

“Thanks again. I really am very grateful.”

He nodded at her words and she sensed that he was still angry. Probably with Alex. She realized that knights held to very high moral standards, and Max had remained true to that just as he held true to Beon’s Order. It was impossible to miss the fact that it encompassed every aspect of his nature. Yet Alex had betrayed it—had betrayed them.

“What happened with Alex anyway?” Ethan asked this time.

It appeared Max wasn’t quite as patient with Ethan as he’d been with Danielle. “I can’t do this if you’re going to talk all night. Now be quiet, both of you. We can discuss all of this later. Go to sleep, little mortals,” Max scolded, but then softened his wrath with a smirk.

Danielle’s attention shifted to Ethan, she could feel his breath radiating into her hair as he pressed his lips to it. Shuddering as his warmth tickled her skin, she closed her eyes. This man, her man, was also a member of the Order, and he displayed the same knightly loyalty as Max.

Cedric’s complaints about Ethan’s faltering propriety came to mind as he snuggled closer to her body, his bent knees fitting into the bend of the back of hers. Danielle rolled to face him. “How is this even remotely appropriate for a gentleman?” she whispered, hoping Max wouldn’t yell at her for talking right after he’d told them to be quiet.

“It’s not, but I don’t bloody care right now. I could have lost you tonight. The horrible thought continues to disturb me. I need to be next to you.” His fingers slid along her cheek as he spoke.

“This stupid war,” she muttered against his chest, knowing her lack of understanding in the matter was part of why Max thought of her as a youth. War just wasn’t part of her world, her peaceful, spoiled world.

“You’re finally taking this seriously?” Ethan asked.

“I guess so.” She quietly searched for Ethan’s lips with hers, hoping to distract herself from the truth. And knew Ethan was all for it when he responded so readily.

But it seemed Max had no patience for that either, because he then revised his demands. “I’m not listening to you two mess around all night. I said sleep…. If you can’t behave I’ll just leave, and I will drag Ethan with me,” he warned curtly but quietly.

They settled for cuddling instead, and slept the rest of the night like that.

 

Max woke them just as the sun was about to peek above the horizon. “Now it is time to go, Ethan. They can’t find you here.” Forcefully, the knight lifted Ethan from the bed by the front of his shirt. Ethan rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stumbled, as he wasn’t steady on his feet yet. Danielle had never seen him groggy like that before. There was a boyish innocence about him with his hair a mess and his clothes rumpled.

He smiled sleepily at her as Max instructed him to hang onto his neck preparing to jump from the window.

“I’ll come get you later,” Ethan said.

Danielle nodded as she followed them to the window.

She watched as Max climbed over the windowsill and dropped into the morning darkness with Ethan. She then noticed Beon standing outside, ready to take the morning shift of watching over her. He nodded at her while she slid the window shut.

 

“Beon wants to have another ... Order council. He’s changing the security arrangements,” Ethan said as she settled into his car later that day after her classes.

“Those are kind of intense,” she complained.

“I know, but you just barely survived your fourth vampire attack. It’s a miracle you’re still alive, Danielle.”

Four attacks? Could it really be that many? She thought back: there was Celeste, no before that was Lucas, then, oh, well she didn’t count Ethan, but she figured he would count himself. She supposed adding Alex did make it four. Without commenting on that, however, she said, “Sometimes I wish … oh, never mind, it’s reckless.”

“Tell me.”

“I’ve never thought like this before, and I never thought I would. But sometimes I think it would be nice if we could just run away, just you and me, and leave all of the dangers, the war and threats behind.”

“That is reckless. And it would never work.”

“I know,” she agonized.

“Though it is beginning to look more and more appealing as time goes on,” he said, surprising her. He felt the same?

“Unfortunately, Uncle Nick would just call the police again. And you’re sure there isn’t anything we can do to defend ourselves?” Secretly Danielle hoped there was some defense, like a stake through the heart, or a spell of some sort, or a plant that was poisonous to them.

Ethan groaned and then glanced at her while he drove, she didn’t like the hopeless look in his eyes. “Sorry, Danielle, there is no defense we can use against a vampire, unless we were lucky, or rather unlucky enough to come across one who happened to be weak with thirst. He’d need to be extremely frail with it. That is the only vampire who could be killed by a mortal, by the usual means—a gun, or knife, or anything like that—but he would also be much more dangerous. He’d fight ferociously to get his fangs into you.

“That’s why you were able to break the skin when you bit me. I was so weak my body wouldn’t heal on its own. And ... I allowed you to bite me. Most vampires would never allow that. Ever.”

“Figures,” she grumbled, then wanting to change the subject, she asked, “What do you have in here right now?” Without letting him answer, Danielle turned the stereo on.

A rocking blend of electric guitar and drums filled the air. The measure wove through the car with a low beat that rumbled lower and harder, banging through a varying range of notes. Then the singer touched on a wide vibrato with his voice, which caused throbbing notes to linger in the air. The vocalist had an almost pretty voice that blended so well with the violent sounds coming from the instruments that it gave her chills, and she leaned back into the headrest to enjoy the ride without conversation.

 

* * * * *

 

 

The others were waiting for them in the drawing room. Cedric and Seth were also there.

“We need to double up on your security. We can’t risk that ever happening again,” Beon said, unsmiling.

“Danielle, I’m so sorry!” Cedric suddenly wailed. “He offered to trade shifts. I had no idea he was—”

“Cedric, it’s okay. I’m fine,” she said, but hoped he didn’t see her shudder at the memory of a fanged Alex going for her neck.

Beon continued, “Danielle, may I have your cell phone?” She fished it from her bag and passed it over. He flipped it open and began pressing buttons, saying, “I’m setting you up with an autodial to me directly. Just in case you need help again.”

“Thank you,” she replied in a docile tone dropping her gaze to the material covering the sofa. She ran her hand across the textured fabric as guilt nudged at her senses. She was certain Beon and the others had better things to do than baby-sit her and Ethan. Plus, as she recalled the incident with Alex, she was fairly certain she wouldn’t have been able to call anyway.

“I don’t believe this is going to get any better, only worse. I had heard that Celeste and Lucas fled the country fearing retaliation for Danielle’s death, so it seems they don’t yet pose a threat, but word is getting out about Ethan being cured. The other vampires are becoming even more of a problem. As I’d said before, some desperately want the cure and may try to force Danielle into giving it to them. But worse than that, however, are others who are deeply upset about this discovery and could pose a threat to either of you simply for bringing it about. This incident with Alex has brought this concern to light. And from what you said, it’s clear he wasn’t working alone,” Beon announced solemnly.

Troubled by his words, Danielle realized that the number of vampires who wanted to harm either of them was growing at an alarming rate. The enormity of what she’d actually gotten herself into was sinking in, and walking away from it would never be an option. It’s true nothing had happened for a while, but now.... It wouldn’t matter if she broke it off with Ethan—which she could never do anyway—as the dangers would continue to creep along behind them because of what they’d done. The thought of running away with Ethan slid back into her mind, but she pushed it aside again. There was no guarantee that would solve their problems either.

“The good news is that there are many good vampires who want to help us, and have volunteered to take guard shifts. We will have more help when it comes to keeping you two safe. There are many who want to protect the two who discovered the cure.”

“What happened with Alex?” Ethan asked.

“I gave Alexander a well deserved beating,” Max said. One side of his full mouth lifted into a crooked grin as he chortled. “He won’t bother Danielle again if he would like to continue breathing air.”

 

* * * * *

 

Curling up onto the settee in Ethan’s room, Danielle reached for the throw draped over the back of it, pulled it forward and around her legs. She got comfortable even knowing they didn’t have much time to spend together before she’d be sent home. “We opened up a can of worms when we cured you, didn’t we?”

Ethan sat down and slipped under the throw with her. “Yes, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

Danielle couldn’t help but wonder if he really meant that. Yes, he loved food but now he was in as much danger as she was in, with no way of defending himself except to rely on Order members for protection. Beon and Max said they could be trusted, but could a bunch of vampires who’d supposedly turned over a new leaf really be trusted? Deep down she knew she would trust Max, Beon, Cedric and even Seth with her life, but what of the others? What about the ones who had killed, who had tasted mortal blood? What if they turned sides like Celeste had or like Alex had? And forget privacy after this.... “It doesn’t look like the bodyguard situation is going to improve.”

“It might change,” Ethan said, leaning back into the cushion.

“For the worse you mean?”

He leaned forward, his elbows braced on his knees. “No. For the better.”

She studied his calm expression. “I don’t understand.”

Gently, he dragged the backs of his fingers along her cheek. She looked at him, wondering if he was going to answer her question. His eyes darkened with soberness before he asked, “Do you want to be with me forever, even with the problems surrounding our relationship? Do you love me?”

Unsettled by the fact that he even had to ask that question, she twisted further to face him more straight on. Of course she realized she hadn’t expressed her love for him as much as he’d said those words to her, but she didn’t want him to doubt how she felt about him. “Of course I love you! You’re everything to me.” She slung her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone, and because of that, I’ll face this with you.”

Just as Danielle finished her ramblings she realized, with panic, that she didn’t know why he was bringing up this line of questioning. What if he’d changed his mind about them and hoped she had the same doubts? What if he thought it was too dangerous for them to be together? Feeling color leave her face as fear washed over her, her shoulders slumped.

A finger came up to her chin and Ethan inspected her expression, the depths of her eyes. She realized that he’d sensed the shift in her mood, as usual. And his response made it clear he understood enough of what was going on in her head. “Danielle, I feel the same. I love you, I adore you ... you’re more valuable to me than anything in this world.” The finger holding her face dropped to the pearl necklace around her neck as he spoke. “I don’t want you to worry about the guards or anyone else, because,” one corner of his mouth lifted, “I have a plan.”

A gasp from her stirred his hair. “Tell me!”

“Nope, it’s a surprise.” Looking away, Ethan hesitated before adding, “I do need to go away for a couple days to prepare for it, though.”

Danielle’s lips twitched into a pout. “You’re not going to Benjamin again, are you? Please tell me it’s not that.” Because that hadn’t worked out so well.

He chuckled. “Relax. I’m not going to visit any vampires this time, and I’ll have two bodyguards with me. I have no worries that I’ll be safe. I just need you to be patient and trust me.”

“You do remember that patience isn’t one of my stronger points, don’t you?”

“I’m fully aware of that,” he said while laughing. “Come here.” With fingers curling around her nape, he pulled her closer, and left a trail of kisses all over her face and lips. “You said you love me, but do you trust me?”

“I trust you. But ... I still worry about your safety, even more so, now that you’re mortal like me.”

Frowning at that comment, he moved the kisses to her neck, and she laughed uncontrollably as he found that ticklish spot. “That’s payback for calling me weak.” When his mouth moved away from the place that drew giggles from her, he said, “Have faith in me.”

“But— When are you leaving? How long will you be? Will you actually answer your phone this time? And will you call me?”

Again he matched his eyes with hers, “I leave tomorrow. I’ll only be gone for two days. And yes, I’ll answer my phone, and yes, I’ll call several times a day.”

“But you said that last time,” she complained, shifting so her legs crossed over his.

His fingers curled around her knee. “This time will be different, and it’s just two days.”

“Is that two days and three nights, or two days and one night or—” Ethan gently placed a hand over her mouth to shut her up.

She tried to scowl at him with just her eyes, but all that earned her was a bit of soft chuckling which she could feel vibrating through his whole torso.

Mumbling under his hand she tried a narrow-eyed look.

Smirking, Ethan sighed and lifted his hand.

“Take me with you,” she said.

“Absolutely not! That would spoil the surprise!”

She groaned. “But I’m not ready for you to leave tomorrow.”

He raised an eyebrow and let his love for her smolder in his blue gaze, showing her the Ethan from her forgotten spirit-life. His thumb landed on her lower lip as he encouraged her lips to part with gentle pressure. Aligning his mouth with hers, he blew into her face like a vampire, like Alex had. Closing her eyes, she drew it in. Obviously he knew exactly what he was doing, the scoundrel. Would he ever play fair?

“Feeling better?” he asked.

The spellbound smile on her face was replaced with her returning pout as she remembered that he still meant to leave. “Not really. You’re still leaving.”

“Yes, but it will be worth it.”

That determination of his was written in every line of his face, and she knew she couldn’t talk him out of it. “All right.” She gathered his face between her hands, noting the stubble scraping at her fingers. “You’d better kiss me. I need something to hold me over.”

Triumphant mirth sparkled in his eyes and he angled his mouth over hers. Those blond whiskers shadowing his face rasped against her cheeks and chin.

They would have kept feasting on the delectable caress if someone hadn’t knocked on the door—again interrupting them whenever they moved this from quiet chatting to kissing. These vampires had uncanny timing and she wondered if it was planned or coincidence.

Ethan lifted his wrist and looked at his watch. “It’s time to get you home.”

“No…” She grabbed his arm to see for herself. It was eight-thirty. They’d allowed them to stay after dark. “How did we not notice the sun had set?”

“My curtains are shut, and I guess we were too involved in our conversation.”

“Right, I guess so.”