Page 44 of Sexual Appetites of Vampires

His back was to her when she entered the formal dining room and she was glad of it, since the atmosphere caught her by surprise.

Romantic.

The whole room was scented with it; dim lighting, flickering candles, a fire crackling in the fireplace, a bottle of white wine chilling in a silver bucket, the table set for two with fine china and white linen napkins and soft strands of light classical music drifting in the air.

While it strummed her passion, it stirred her heart much more.

He turned then and seeing how his eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw her was the best complaint she could have ever gotten.

“I’m rendered speechless. You’re too stunning for words.”

Okay, maybe that was the best complaint she had ever gotten.

He held his hand out to her and she walked over to him, wondering how he could appear more handsome each time she saw him. Of course the expensive black suit he wore with thecobalt blue shirt and black silk tie no doubt added to his good looks.

“That dress is lethal,” he said as he took her hand and drew her close. “And so are those red lips of yours. I’m going to enjoy kissing them bare.”

She playfully turned her head away when he went to kiss her. “And here I thought to paint your whole body with my red lips.”

He took hold of her chin and turned her face to claim a sharp kiss. “Tempt me with such an image and—” His eyes began to glow red and he quickly shut them.

Lara gulped back the lump that rose in her throat. She realized that he was fighting back his vampire side more and more when it came to sex. While she trusted him, she also thought it would be foolish of her to add to his struggle.

“Later,” she whispered, pressing her hand to his chest.

His eyes opened to reveal a spattering of red that faded more slowly than usual. “You can count on it.”

He held out the chair for her to sit and he took the seat at the head of the table. Conversation flowed naturally between them as it always did. They never seemed to lack something to discuss. Tales of his travels fascinated her, and tales of her work intrigued him. And always underlying their discussions, or anything they did, was intimacy.

It came in a simple touch, a laugh, a smile, an unexpected kiss, a playful poke, or a look that had them both knowing that soon, very soon, they would make love.

It was a lovely meal, though Lara wasn’t concerned with the meal as much as she was with the time left to her with Michael. She had been enjoying herself so much that she hadn’t realized several hours had passed, bringing morning that much closer.

She finally asked the question she had been putting off. “What time will the car service be here tomorrow?”

“Not until after lunchtime.”

She smiled, keeping her thoughts quiet.

He reached out and took her hand, caressing it lightly. “Do you feel you have everything you need for your chapter on sexual appetites of vampires?”

She had to smile. “More than I thought possible.”

He turned her hand over, his thumb gently tracing circles on her palm. “I’m surprised that your curiosity hasn’t had you wanting to experience sex with a vampire firsthand.”

“It’s tempting,” she admitted and chose her words carefully, making sure she didn’t once let the wordloveslip in. “But if I did, then I would completely surrender to you.”

“And you don’t want to surrender to me?”

“It’s tempting,” she said again and battled with the thoughts that wanted to rush into her head and scream,it isn’t surrender it’s love.

“Perhaps I haven’t tempted you enough,” he said and leaned in to kiss her.

“Perhaps you haven’t tempted me with just the right thing,” she whispered before his lips met hers.

“Tell me,” he said and his lips encouraged with a kiss.

She sighed, loving the taste of him. “That’s for you to find out.”

---