Page 28 of Shadows of Eternity

Leaning forward, he whispered, “None of them were as lovely as you, Princess.”

“Please stop reading my mind. It makes me feel naked.” She clapped a hand to her mouth when she realized what she’d said.

Rohan laughed softly. “Sorry. Force of habit. I’ll try not to do it anymore.”

“Thank you.” She was glad when their drinks arrived.

For a time, they listened to the band. Their repertoire was mainly old love songs.

Putting his drink aside, Rohan held out his hand. “Shall we?”

She hesitated only a moment before she put her hand in his. Being a Sunday night, the crowd was light, mostly older, retired couples, Leia mused.

“How long have you been teaching kindergarten?” he asked.

“Four years. How long have you been dancing?”

“With you? Not nearly long enough.”

Some of the tension drained out of her and she made a face at him. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

“I’ve been with the dance troupe about eleven years, I guess.”

When Rohan drew her closer, Leia forgot everything else but the magic of being in his arms. The music seemed to spin a web around them, enclosing them in a world of their own. She was keenly aware of his arms holding her close. His scent surrounded her, an enticingly masculine scent that caused everything female within her to respond. She shivered when he brushed a kiss across her cheek.

When she looked up, his gaze moved to her lips, then back to her eyes, a silent question in his own. When she didn’t object, he claimed her lips with his. It was a gentle kiss, yet she felt it in every fiber of her being. She closed her eyes, wondering what it would be like to lie naked in his arms, to hold him and caress him and be caressed in return. She knew, somehow, that he would be an incredible lover.

They stayed on the dance floor, bodies pressed intimately together, until the musicians took a break.

Her legs felt wobbly as he guided her back to her seat. If being so close to him made her feel like that, she could only imagine what making love to him would be like.Oh, Lord, she thought,I hope he wasn’t lying when he said he would stop reading my mind.

They ordered another round of drinks while they waited for the band to return. Time and again, she felt his gaze on her face. What was he thinking? she wondered. This was supposed to be their last date. What would she say if he asked for another?

They danced for another hour and with every passing minute, her dread of telling him good night grew stronger. Maybe his being a vampire didn’t matter, Leia thought desperately. Maybe nothing mattered but the way he made her feel.

Her thoughts were in turmoil as he drove her home.

“Well, here we are,” he said when he pulled into the apartment complex.

She nodded, bit down on her lower lip as he came around to open her door. Taking her hand, he walked her up the porch stairs.

Lifting her hand, he kissed her palm. “If you change your mind, I’d love to see you again.” He wasn’t ready to let her go, and it took all his self-control to keep from messing with her mind, to make her want to see him again, even if she didn’t.

“I’ll think about it.”

He nodded. “You know where to find me.”

Unexpected tears welled in her eyes. He was going to tell her goodbye and she would never see him again. She reminded herself it was for the best. He was a vampire. She had to remember that above all else. They really had no future together.

Giving her hand a squeeze, he murmured, “Have a good life, Princess.”

Pain pierced her heart as she watched him walk away. She clamped her lips together to keep from calling him back, even as her whole soul yearned toward him.

He paused at his car to turn and look back at her.

“Rohan,” she whispered.Read my mind.

He was at her side in an instant, his arms going around her, holding her close as he murmured her name, and then he was kissing her again.

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