Page 41 of The Highwayman's Bite

As Vivian raised her blade to salute her opponent, the companion spoke.

“Know this, Rhys.” Madame Renarde regarded him imperiously from her place on the rock. “If you cut her face, or wound her, I will carve out your heart.”

Rhys inclined his head. “And if that should happen, I will gladly allow you.”

The companion did not seem convinced, for it seemed that he and Vivian remained in position for an eternity before she called out, “Pret!” Ready! And finally, “Allez!” Fence!

Vivian nearly took him off guard with a Patinando, a step forward with an appel—a quick beat on the ground from her rear foot at the same time as the front foot landed, coupled with a compound riposte. A brilliant preliminary attack. Rhys had to concentrate to parry in time at a human speed.

Exhilaration flooded his being as their blades slashed and kissed. Vivian was a brilliant fencer, far superior to many men he’d dueled.

Yet the experience felt different than sparring or fighting with a man. With them, there was a fierce competitive edge, a desire to best them, sometimes to humiliate or even hurt them. With Vivian, the duel felt like a dance, each of them moving in coordinated splendor.

Their bodies moved closer with each thrust and parry, withdrawing, then meeting again. Rhys was captivated with the rosy flush in Vivian’s cheeks, her parted lips, the dark, vibrant cloud of her hair as it flared out with each time she danced away from his blade. Her silvery eyes glittered with raw exhilaration.

The element of primitive danger somehow gave the duel the element of seduction. Each time their blades rang together, Rhys felt a ringing peal in his soul. Each time Vivian retreated, he was driven to pursue her.

Desire throbbed in his veins like a beast at the verge of breaking the chains that restrained it. Vivian executed a movement that had their blades locked and her body inches from his. Her eyes locked on him and they both froze. Her breasts heaved beneath her woolen gown, seeming to beckon him. Her lips parted as she panted from the effort. For a moment, all Rhys could think about was a different sort of exertion.

Her pink tongue licked her lower lip as if in invitation, and Rhys smelled a hint of intoxicating feminine arousal. He bent and almost kissed her, then thankfully remembered what a disaster that would be. So instead of claiming those lush lips, Rhys twisted his blade free and stepped away, blocking her immediate responsive attack.

On and on they fought, while Rhys struggled between enjoyment at the duel and overwhelming lust.

His delight in the duel blinded his common sense. After what had to be an hour of sparring, he finally broke through his haze of rapture and realized that Vivian was reaching the point of exhaustion. Her legs wobbled slightly during her steps, and the tip of her blade quivered. Her hair was plastered to her forehead with a film of sweat and her breath heaved in long gasps.

Yet he still wanted to disarm her, carry her into the cave, and show her other ways in which they could be matched. From the whiff of desire he’d caught from her, Vivian likely shared the same inclination.

That would be folly. Folly that must be stopped for both of their sakes. The idea that had been whispering through the back of his mind now sang aloud in the forefront.

There was only one way to ensure that Vivian would fear him, and that the Lord Vampire of Blackpool would learn that he was dealing with someone on his level.

Every bone in his body ached with reluctance to cut Vivian’s precious flesh, even a mere scratch, but he had to. Not only that, but he must end this dangerous desire sparking between them.

With his preternatural speed, Rhys brought his blade up and under Vivian’s parrying arm, and nicked the side of her neck.

She dropped the blade and gasped as a thin, crimson stream trickled down her throat. Rhys stared at the ruby vintage and bared his fangs, now consumed by only one hunger.

As he stalked towards her, she held up a hand as if to ward him off. “What are you?”

He pulled her into his arms and let her have a good long look at his glowing eyes and sharp teeth. “I think you know.”

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