Page 80 of Midnight Enchantment

Breathless, she wrapped her arms and legs around him as he rained kisses on her brow, her cheeks, her eyelids, the curve of her throat.

“Let me.” His voice was a low growl in her ear.

She wasn’t sure what he was asking, but she didn’t care. She had waited so long, wanted him so badly, she was willing to give him anything he desired.

She felt the gentle prick of his fangs at her throat, sighed as pleasure surged through her, warm and sweet and intoxicating. She writhed beneath him, then went still when he pushed her nightgown up over her hips. His hands were cool against her bare skin and she closed her eyes. He was going to make love to her, and she was going to let him.

Abruptly, he rolled away from her and sat up, his back toward her.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered. His back was rigid when she touched him.

“Believe me, I do not want to.” He raked his fingers through his hair. “But we need a virgin, remember? And for now, you are the only one we have.”

Lily stared at him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. How could he think ofthatat a moment like this?

“I am sorry, Liliana,” he said quietly. “Forgive me.”

How could she not? He was fighting a demon, fighting for his very existence, for their life together.

Sitting up, she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his broad back. “There’s nothing to forgive. I love you, Raedan.”

Turning, he pulled her onto his lap and held her close. “Ah, Liliana, you are a rare creature, and more precious to me than you will ever know.”

“Promise me we’ll have time alone together when this is over.”

“I promise,” he murmured. She was so young, so foolish to put her trust in him. But then, he was equally foolish to think he could keep the blood-demon forever at bay.

In the morning, after breakfast, Lily, Ava, and Mason gathered around the kitchen table to discuss how best to find the dragon.

“We have to consider Raedan,” Ava said. “I don’t know how long or how often he can be exposed to the sun when it’s at its hottest. Protective clothing might help, or we might have to start hunting later in the afternoon and on into the night. Or we can go without him. After all, he could come to us in an instant.”

Lily shivered at the thought of being in the Carpathian Mountains after dark.

“It might take us days to find the thing,” Mason said. “We also need to decide whether to camp out or return here every night.”

“Fortunately, whatever we decide won’t be a problem,” Ava said. “We can conjure whatever we need whenever we need it.”

Mason nodded. “True enough.”

“We need to be mindful of bears and wolves,” Lily remarked. She shrugged when Ava and Mason looked at her. “I did some research before breakfast. I guess both are plentiful in the mountains. Lynxes and wildcats, too.”

“Good to know,” Mason said.

“I’m pretty sure they won’t bother us,” Ava said. “Most animals shy away from vampires. And witches.”

“I hope so,” Lily murmured. “There’s also deer, wild cats, and wild boars. And bison.”

“I doubt if any of them are as dangerous as Raedan and the blood-demon,” Ava said dryly. “Let’s plan to leave late this afternoon. We’ll decide whether to spend the night later.”

With a nod, Mason slapped his hands on the table. “I need to get out and stretch my legs. Anybody want to come along?”

“Sounds good to me,” Ava said. “Lily?”

Smothering a grin at their none-to-subtle desire to be alone, Lily shook her head. “You two go ahead. I think I’ll read for a while. And maybe take a nap.”

They were like a couple of horny teenagers, Lily mused as they hurried outside.

She sat there a moment, staring out the kitchen window, and then padded up the stairs to the attic. She hesitated outside the door, then turned the handle as quietly as she could and peered inside.

---