CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The room was dark when I opened my eyes. I was in my bed, restless and couldn‟t sleep. Daniel slept quietly. Thoughts ran wild through my mind. Visions played before my eyes. Richard. Mithras. The chill of their blue eyes played over and over again.

Someone had dressed me in my nightgown. Carefully, I moved and grabbed my silk robe. A breath of fresh air might do me good. The replays of Richard lingered on my mind, the longing, the need and the desire.

Quietly, I padded down the staircase and outside to the patio. The air was cooler, but not to the point I couldn‟t stand it. The sky was a dark essence of blue hues. The clouds, silver toned cotton balls floated slowly in front of the half moon. My instincts were higher than normal. Richard flooded my mind again. I closed my eyes. What had he done to me? This wasn‟t just the venom. There had to be more of a reason than that. I could feel him. Feel his presence somewhere nearby. Feel the longing that stirred inside his immortal heart. The wind stirred slightly, bringing to me the mysterious scent of a vampire.

“Out for a breath of fresh air?” His voice broke through my thoughts.

My eyes widened as I saw him standing in the backyard. I couldn‟t speak. My thoughts soon faded. Through the dark night, the inhumanly beautiful creature looked even more appealing than in the day. Richard stepped lightly up the stairs of the patio. I froze. My breath seized.

“I…” he began. His gaze dropped to my trembling hands. Slowly, he took a step closer to me.

“Stop. ” My lips quivered.

The brown eyebrows met in a frown. “Julie,” he began, “I cannot live this way any longer.”

“Richard…no…please.” I begged again.

“You haunt me. I cannot stop thinking about you. Everywhere I go, I cannot escape you. Your eyes. Your lips.” He moved closer still. “Your kiss.” He whispered.

I turned my head to the side. In that moment, I couldn‟t bear to look into his eyes.

Worse yet, I didn‟t want him to see the pain I felt for him in my own eyes. The closer he came, the stronger the essence of his being pulled me to him. It drew me to him like a magnet. My eyes closed tightly as I felt his body only inches from mine.

“Only you can release me.” The coolness of his breath fanned across my face.

My eyes lifted to see the tortured look on his face. I could see the mental anguish he had been dealing with and pain swelled inside my heart. He was locked inside a living hell. There was no release for him and no relief in sight. Casey was right. Richard was unfathomably in love with me. His cool fingers slipped around my hand and brought it gently to rest over his heart. The slow beating heart of this vampire now raced against the palm of my hand.

“This is yours. It is all that I have to offer you. ” His voice broke in a whisper. “Take it and do with it what you will. I no longer have the need to live, if I cannot have you. ”

Tears formed in my eyes. Pain burned inside my heart, piercing through the walls and barriers that shielded me from him. This beautiful creation stood before me, willing to die. I could feel it. Deep down in my heart I knew. Richard wanted to die. He truly didn‟t have the will to live. No, I couldn‟t bear the thought of it. Not Richard.

“Richard,” I choked out. A single tear fell from my eye. “I…”

His finger gently removed the tear from my cheek. Blinking slowly, his hand slid around my neck and pulled me closer to him. The coolness of his body pressed against mine. The smell of his aromatic floral fragrance filled my senses, rendering me helpless under his control.

“I can’t go on living without you. You are the very thing I have wanted all these lonely and terrifying years. You have no idea the pain I have suffered. Julie, the moments I am with you…I truly live. You bring a light into my life that I have not felt in over 300 years. It is not the memory of Juliet that haunts me. It is you and you alone. I am tortured by every moment I am not near you.

Knowing I could never have you, have your love. I would never hurt you. I promise you this; I would rather die than continue to live this way.” The softness of his breath lingered against my face.

“Richard, you can’t die…” I breathed out in a fainted whisper. My heart ripped at the sound of his voice, which spoke of a love forbidden.

His lips pressed lightly against mine. “Then give me a reason to live,” He spoke softly against my lips.

My heart raced. My breath froze. Tenderly, his lips parted mine with a gentle graze.

The softness of his tongue traced the curve of my lip. The faintness of his floral scent drew into my mouth. Leisurely, he slid it further inside searching for the everlasting kiss that was never meant to be. The taste of him weakened me. Breathless and wanting more of the delightful taste, this sweet taste was the very thing I had been craving, his kiss.

The taste of his mouth against mine, the flavor of his tongue as it caressed mine. Tears streamed down my face. He pulled my helpless body closer as I gave in to the kiss. The will I had no longer existed. Softly, he stroked my tongue wrapping his around mine. He drew a deep breath and pulled it into his mouth. A groan rumbled in his throat as I took over the kiss.

The intoxicating feeling increased. I wanted more. My hand went to his face holding him close to me. His fingers ran through my hair to the back of my head, pressing me harder against his lips. I inhaled the sweet scent deeper into my lungs, allowing the wonderful sweetness to intoxicate me even further. Richard‟s body pressed harder against mine, molding me to him. I felt every inch of his cool body. The swelling of his manhood pressed against the womanhood that wept for him.

Fire flamed in my veins. My heart pounded hard against his chest. Without any warning, my body quivered. He instinctively caught the small of my back with his left hand to steady me. In turn, he controlled the kiss again. Stroking. Teasing. Taunting. My breath held. My body trembled. My mind went numb. My legs tingled and weakened.

The earth felt like it moved underneath my feet. My mind swirled. That‟s when I felt it, a slow coursing through my body. The ache…the pain…suddenly I came. Trembling underneath his spell, my body betrayed me underneath his kiss. I went limp in his arms.

Richard‟s lips left mine.

“Richard.” I breathed out.