Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47359 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“Thank goodness the spike didn’t fully puncture your skin,” he said as he came to stand beside her.
She watched as he searched the medicine cabinet, taking out a bottle of peroxide, antibiotic ointment, and a large bandage. She had to ask. “I thought vampires healed instantly, so why a stocked medicine cabinet?”
“Appearances.”
“You have many strangers going through your medicine cabinet?”
“Overnight guests,” he said with a wink, and then dropped down beside her once again.
The thought that he had had other women here, in his bathroom, in his bed, annoyed her, so she threw a sarcastic barb at him. “Bite any?” She winced, the peroxide having connected with her wound and stinging mightily.
“Sorry, I don’t mean to hurt you,” he said.
His apology was so genuine that it touched her heart. It sounded as if it had pained him to have caused her pain. But what about when he bit a woman on the neck? Surely that would be more painful than this minor wound. What did he feel then? Pleasure?
She was about to ask him again if he ever bit any woman when he sprung up to once again stand beside her.
He got busy wetting a hand towel and grabbing the larger one that lay beneath it on the towel bar. “Need to get the blood off you.”
“I can do that she offered.” Worried the blood might be too much for him.
“Not to worry. I’m not a young vampire who needs to learn to control his urges. Although with you, it is proving more difficult than I anticipated.”
“Is that why you looked so...” she shivered recalling the feral look on his face when she had seen him at the end of the hall after the lights had come on.
“I was in the middle of trying to get the generator to kick on again, not wanting you to wake to pitch darkness when I sensed you were already up and about. Then when I realized where you were,” —he stopped— “I was too late to stop you from getting hurt. I should have gotten to you sooner.”
He’d been angry because she’d been hurt, not because he was thirsty for her blood. He cared about her, and her heart didn’t hammer this time, it swelled like a young girl who was on the precipice of falling off and into love.
“The snowstorm has grown worse, and I fear the one generator will shut off again and might not turn back on, so it would be best if you slept in my bed tonight,” he said as he finished drying her leg and patting her backside dry.
She was about to reject his suggestion when she felt him apply the antibiotic cream to her wound. His touch was so tender, so considerate that the little embarrassment left from this strange incident vanished. That was as long as she didn’t allow herself to think about her naked derriere being practically in his face. Or be reminded that he had told her he’d love to give it some tender bites.
She quickly said, “I’ll do fine in my own bed.”
“There’s no need for you to worry, I’ll sleep on the chaise,” he assured her and stood, taking her by the arm and turning her slowly around to face him. “I want to make sure you’re safe. And being with me, I know you’ll be safe.”
She realized right there and then that it wasn’t Michael she had to fear—it was herself.
“Can I have my pajama bottom?” she asked much too tempted to remain half naked in front of him. After all it would only take a quick yank of his sweatpants to have him naked. Yup, the thought was just too damn tempting.
“They have blood on them. I’ll lend you something of mine.”
That wasn’t good, then she’d have his scent on her. Just like her scent stimulated him, his scent stimulated her—big time.
He braced his hands on either side of her again. “It’s torture for me, having you here so close and not being able to do anything about it, since I will not take what is not given freely.”
“I should go to my room,” she said his body pressing lightly against hers.
“Stay here,” he said his sweatpants whispering against her clitoris and sending it tingling wildly.
She sucked in her breath, trying to gain control of her passion that was screaming I want, I want, I want. She needed to get away from him or she’d do something she’d regret or would she?
Come on let’s have fun, her libido shouted.
“I need to go,” she said and pushed past him, out the bathroom door and into his bedroom. He followed her, though didn’t stop her, though his words did as her hand reached for the doorknob.
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid,” she said turning with a toss of her head.
“Then let me love you.”