Page 60 of Enchant the Dawn

Maddy grinned, wondering why no one had ever written a story about a sleeping prince. Dominic would have been perfect for the part. Tall, dark, and handsome as sin. She bit back a grin as she fought the urge to kiss him for the second time that day. Would he awaken? How deeply did he sleep?

Throwing caution to the winds, she tiptoed across the room, bent down, and kissed him lightly.

The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back and he was leaning over her, his expression momentarily fierce. And then he frowned down at her. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing,” she squeaked.

“Did you kiss me?”

She nodded weakly.

“Couldn’t you wait until I was awake?” he asked, grinning broadly.

“It was an experiment,” she retorted.

“Do you want to explain that?”

Sitting up, she felt her cheeks grow warm. “I was wondering whether it would wake you up if I kissed you. You know, like the sleeping princess in a fairy tale?”

“Do I look like a princess to you?”

Maddy glared at him. “Of course not! But you looked like a prince. I just wondered if it worked in reverse. I didn’t expect you to attack me.”

“I’m sorry about that. I may have overreacted a little. But in my defense, it is daylight and I am in a strange bed.” He shrugged. “I guess my instinct for self-preservation just kicked in.”

“I guess so,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “Maybe we could kiss and make up.”

“Do you promise not to attack me again?”

“On my honor.” Drawing her gently into his arms, he kissed her lightly, and then more deeply.

She moaned softly as he stretched out on the bed, aligning her body with his as his mouth claimed hers again, his tongue doing incredible things.

She ran her palms up and down his back, loving the cool feel of his bare skin, slipped her fingers into the silky hair at his nape. Heat flowed through her, as warm and sweet as honey.

Maddy quivered as his tongue laved the side of her neck. She was drowning in pleasure—until she felt the prick of fangs. Feeling as if someone had doused her with ice water, she bolted upright.

Dominic stared up at her, and then swore softly. “I’m sorry, Maddy. Dammit, I didn’t mean for that to happen.”

She pressed her hand to her throat, her eyes filled with accusation.

“I’m sorry,” he said again as he sat up.

“I can’t believe you did that,” she said, and shook her head as she realized how stupid her words sounded. He was a vampire, for crying out loud. It was what they did.

Dominic huffed a sigh, then reached for her hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away. “It’s like this,” he said. “My desire for you is closely interwoven with my hunger, and my hunger increases my desire. It’s hard for me to separate one from the other when you’re in my arms. Do you understand?”

“Not really.”

“Well, I can’t blame you. I don’t really understand it myself. Forgive me?”

She looked at their entwined hands, his so big and strong, hers smaller, weaker. Different and yet the same. “I forgive you. Do you want to go back to sleep?”

“No.” It wasn’t really sleep, he thought.

“Do you want to go to the store with me?”

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