Page 72 of Shadows of Eternity

“Sometimes, if the woman is lonely, or sad, or grieving, I let a little of my power surround her. But it’s not the same pleasure you feel. For them, it’s more comforting than sensual.”

Leia considered that a moment, then asked, “Do you drink from men, too?”

“Rarely.” He kissed her again. “I really need to go. I won’t be long.”

She grinned when he went out the front door instead of just vanishing from her sight.

His bride-to-be asked the damnedest questions, Rohan mused as he prowled the shadowy darkness. One of the reasons he loved Leia was because she was like no other woman he had ever known. And after three hundred years, that was saying something. He loved the sweetness of her blood, the silk of her hair, the way she gave herself to him completely, nothing held back, the way she looked at him, kissed him, held him. The way she accepted him for what he was. God bless the girl. With Leia, he felt loved. Almost human again.

He fed on the first single woman he found, then strolled back toward Leia’s apartment. He could have transported himself there in seconds but sometimes he enjoyed wandering through the night, feeling the velvet darkness close in around him, seeing things mortals never saw, hearing sounds they could not hear. The wind whispered her secrets in his ear, the moon’s light revealed the beauty of the world around him.

Rohan’s preternatural senses warned him he wasn’t alone moments before his sire materialized beside him. “What do you want now?”

“I’m curious,” Josiah said. “How did you get the woman to love you?”

“You want advice about love, call the lonely hearts editor.”

Josiah snorted. “I’ve had dozens of lovers.”

“Like Magdalena? Did you promise them forever, too, and then split?”

“She grew boring after a while. Always asking if I loved her, always wanting a bigger house, another dress, another trip. There was no pleasing her.” Josiah shook his head. And then he grinned. “Who knows? Perhaps vampire love isn’t meant to last more than a week or two.”

“It’s gonna last a hell of a lot longer than that if I have anything to say about it. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a lovely woman waiting for me.” Rohan didn’t give his sire a chance to comment, simply willed himself to Leia’s apartment.

She let out a little cry of surprise when he swung her up into his arms and carried her to bed. There was no time for talk. Their clothing disappeared in an instant. He took her swiftly, masterfully, needing to feel her arms around him, to hear her cry out that she loved him, would always love him.

Exhausted, she fell asleep in his arms. He stayed awake far into the night, just holding her close, listening to the soft, even beating of her heart, and knew, deep inside, that he would never let death take her away from him.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

In the morning, Leia spent several minutes admiring her future husband’s physique while he slept. It was becoming a habit, she mused, but she never tired of looking at him. He slept on his back, one arm thrown across his chest, the other at his side. Sometimes she imagined him dancing around a campfire with other warriors in the middle of a Lakota village, or hunting buffalo on the Great Plains, And sometimes she imagined herself lying naked beside him on a pile of buffalo robes in a hide lodge. But none of her daydreams were as wonderful as the real thing.

Smiling, she kissed him lightly on the cheek, then slid out of bed. Grabbing her robe, she headed into the kitchen, only to come to an abrupt halt in the doorway. Dozens of colorful bouquets in sparkling crystal vases were lined up along the counter and on top of the refrigerator. A delicate vase holding a single red rose stood in the middle of the kitchen table. A white envelope and a small, black velvet box stood beside the vase.

With trembling hands, she opened the envelope and withdrew a small card.

Leia,

I hope the ring is to your liking. If not, we can go shopping later and you can pick one you like. I will love you for eternity.

Rohan

Leia took a deep breath before she lifted the lid on the velvet box. Inside, nestled in a bed of dark blue velvet, she found the most beautiful engagement ring she had ever seen.

“It must have cost a fortune,” she murmured as she lifted it out of the box, turning it this way and that, dazzled by the way the diamonds sparkled in the light. Blinking back her tears, she tucked the ring back into the box and closed the lid. It was all she could do not to run into the bedroom and throw herself in Rohan’s arms, but she hated to rouse him so early. If only she could make time move just a little faster!

Not wanting to disturb his rest, she tiptoed into the bedroom, grabbed her underwear, jeans, and a sweater, and dressed in the living room. Scooping up her handbag and her cell phone, she left the apartment.

In the car, she called her favorite hair dresser to see if she had any openings. Luck was with her. Barbara had had a cancellation and could see her in thirty minutes. Next, she called around until she found a place to have her nails done. Anything to make the day go faster, she thought, as she turned on the engine, backed out of her parking space and headed downtown.

Later, with her hair and nails done, she went to a matinee.

It was five o’clock when she returned home. She smiled as she picked up the little black velvet box and again admired the ring Rohan had chosen for her. He had exquisite taste, she mused, and couldn’t wait to tell him so. Box in hand, she was about to head into the bedroom to wake him when he appeared in the kitchen clad in his usual black briefs and nothing more.

“Rohan!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love it!”

He hugged her tight. “Do you?”

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