Page 50 of Shadows of Eternity

Trent swallowed hard as the vampire pulled away from the curb. He stared at the Challenger’s tail lights as they faded into the distance.Dammit.He hadn’t been that scared—or that close to death—in a long time.

Chapter Twenty-One

“Ihad an interesting conversation with your friend’s husband last night,” Rohan remarked. He had taken Leia dancing earlier. Now, they were snuggled on the sofa in her apartment. She had kicked off her shoes, and so had he. Soft music played in the background.

“Really?” she asked curiously. “About what?”

He looked at her, one brow raised. “What do you think?”

“Oh. Oh! He’s not planning to … you know?”

“Take my head?”

She grimaced at the image. “Is he?”

“Not right now.”

“What do you mean, not right now?” she asked, worried by the implied threat.

“He said he’d kill me if I hurt you or anyone else in the city. The usual vampire hunter warning.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him to stay out of my business or his wife will be a widow.”

Leia bolted upright. “You didn’t! You wouldn’t!” In any conflict between the two men, she was certain Rohan would win. And just as certain that Trent’s death would also be the death of her friendship with Janae.

“What did you want me to say?”

“Well … I don’t know, but … ” Leia bit down on her lower lip, her brow furrowed. What had she expected him to do? Run away like a whipped cur? He’d never do that, nor would she want him to.

Rohan put his arm around her again. “Don’t worry about it, love. He’s not going to do anything, and neither am I.”

Relief washed over her. She didn’t know what she’d do if Rohan made good on his threat. Still, he had a right to defend himself, if necessary.

He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lightly. “Don’t think about it,” he murmured, kissing her again. “Whatever happens, happens. No use in worrying about it.”

He ran his tongue along the side of her neck, sending a wave of heat spiraling through her.

In answer to his unasked question, Leia canted her head to the side, giving him access to her throat. She sighed, her eyelids fluttering down, as he bit her. Why did she find something that should have been disgusting so arousing?

A moment later, he sealed the tiny wounds, pulled her into his arms, and carried her to bed. He quickly shed his own clothing and then, his gaze burning into hers, he undressed her ever so slowly.

Lying beside him, with his hands and lips arousing her, pleasuring her in a hundred ways, Leia forgot everything else but the incredible man rising over her, carrying her to heights and depths she had never imagined.

Much later, when he rose to leave, she tugged on his hand. “Why don’t you move in with me?”

“Are you sure about that?”

She giggled at the surprised look on his face. “I’m sure. I hate it when you go home after we make love. You want to, don’t you?”

“Oh, yeah. I’ve almost asked you a couple of times, but … ” He shrugged. “I didn’t know how’d you’d feel about it.”

“Why didn’t you just read my mind?”

“I’m trying not to pry,” he said, with a grin.

She smiled up at him as he slid back under the covers and took her in his arms again. What would he say, she wondered, if she asked him to marry her?

---