Page 65 of Twilight Longings

“I think youwantto sleep with her.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You seem all too willing. After all, sheisbeautiful. And sexy.”

“Kadie, if I’d wanted to sleep with her, I had plenty of chances to do so while you were unconscious. I’d do anything she asked if it meant keeping you safe. I love you, Kadie. Only you. Never anyone else.” Slipping his hand into his pants’ pocket, he withdrew a small dark-blue velvet box and handed it to her.

Kadie’s heart skipped a beat when she opened it and found her rings inside. Rylan had wanted her to have the very best and spared no expense, though she would have been happy with a plain gold band. The emerald-cut diamond engagement ring winked at her as he lifted the rings from the box and slipped them on her finger.

She melted into Rylan’s arms when he drew her closer, her eyelids fluttering down as his mouth claimed hers in a soul-searing kiss that drove every doubt, every other thought from her mind but her desire to satisfy the need burning in his eyes, the same longing coursing through her like a river of fire, crying for his touch to put out the flames.

Reading her thoughts, he transported the two of them down to his lair. A thought removed their clothing and then they were lying side-by-side in their bed and he was kissing her, caressing her, as if he would never let her go. Her hands were as eager as his as they explored each other as enthusiastically as if it was the first time.

“Kadie, Kadie,” he murmured, his voice thick with desire. “You have no idea how much I missed you, your laughter, your smile. Your warmth. Holding you, kissing you.” His fingertips moved over her lips. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“Never,” she whispered, her hands grasping his shoulders as he rose over her and carried her away.

Kadie studied the envelope in her hand. It was addressed to her, but there was no return address. Who could be writing to her? No one knew she was here. Only one way to find out, she thought, as she slid her thumb under the flap.

Kadie ~

You are cordially invited to a party in your honor tonight at 9 p.m. at the hotel.

Dress casual.

Rosa

Kadie smiled as she read the invite a second time. She had been so caught up remembering her past, getting to know Rylan all over again in the most intimate ways, she had given little thought to the rest of the family. What to wear? Thanksto Rylan’s generosity over the years, she had a very large wardrobe in the closet down in the lair. In the past, she had only to admire a dress, a hat, a pair of shoes, a coat, and the next time she looked in her closet, it was there. It got to the point that if she looked at something twice, it was hers. And he was still that way, she thought, remembering how he had insisted on taking care of her when she couldn’t even remember who he was and after the curse was broken.

She would go down and pick out something later, she decided, so as not to wake the very sexy vampire sleeping in her bed.

Saintcrow rose late in the afternoon. His senses told him Kadie was in the kitchen making cookies and that she was unusually excited about something. He let his mind brush hers. Ah. Rosa was giving a party to celebrate Kadie’s recovery. He grunted softly. That should be some party, he mused. No dinner, no dessert, just a variety of red wines to toast Kadie’s good health. He considered buying a cake but decided against it, thinking it would only embarrass Kadie when no one else could eat it.

He showered and dressed, his thoughts, as always, on Kadie. How would it affect their relationship if she decided she’d rather not be a vampire again? Unlike most vampires, he didn’t need to rest during the day. But he could never give her what she wanted most of all—a baby. He had no desire for a child, but he supposed they could adopt one if it would make her happy. As far as he knew, it had worked out well for Ethan and Sofia.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he stared at the wall. A baby in the house would certainly change things. Selfish creature that he was, he didn’t want to share Kadie’s love with anyoneelse, especially not with a child that wasn’t his.Damn. But he would make the sacrifice for his Kadie. After all, the kid would leave home after eighteen or twenty years. He could put up with it that long. As for Kadie, she had been twenty-four when he met her. Physically, she was still twenty-four.

What if she never wanted to become a vampire again? She would age. Eventually, he would lose her.

How would he live without her? He couldn’t. The months when she had been lost to him had proven that. He couldn’t go through that hell again.

He shook off his morbid thoughts when he heard her footsteps in the tunnel.

“Hey!” Kadie said, hurrying through the door. “Guess what? We’ve been invited to a party.”

Feigning ignorance, he said, “A party?”

Sitting beside him, she handed him the invitation. “You want to go, don’t you?”

“Sure.” He smiled at her enthusiasm. Kadie had always gotten along with everyone.

“I got in touch with my sister while you were resting,” she said, with a smile. “She’s doing fine. They finally found a cure for what ailed her. Maybe we could go visit her one of these days.”

Saintcrow nodded. “Anything you want, sweetheart.”

Kadie put her arm around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder. “I love you, Rylan. You’ve always been so good to me. Even when I hated you.”

“I don’t think you ever hated me, Kadie, darlin’. You just thought you should.”

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