Murmuring her name, he pulled her roughly into his arms. "What am I going to do with you, Daisy, darlin'?"
She looked up at him, drowning in the depths of his deep black eyes. He could do anything he wanted with her, she thought. Didn't he know that?
Her eyelids fluttered down as his mouth covered hers. She pressed against him, wanting to be closer, wanting to feel his skin against hers, his hands on her flesh. In his arms, she could face anything, be anything. She wanted to be a part of him, to give him everything she was, everything she would ever be.
She moaned softly as his hand moved restlessly up and down her spine, his touch somehow erotic, even through her clothing. She wanted to touch him, needed to feel his skin beneath her hand. Tugging his shirt from his jeans, she pressed her palms to his back. His skin was smooth and cool.
"My turn," he whispered.
She gasped his name when his hands slid under her sweater. He walked her backward until she was against the wall, and then he leaned into her, letting her feel his desire. She writhed against him, aching and needy, willing, at that moment, to do anything he wanted if he would satisfy the ache building deep inside.
She might have surrendered to him then and there if Alex hadn't cleared his throat. "Do you guys think I could get some breakfast before you devour each other?"
Erik drew back, his eyes hot. He stared at Daisy a moment, then pressed his car keys and a handful of cash into her hand. "Get him something to eat," he said, his voice ragged. "But have it delivered. I'll see you tonight."
Before Daisy could say ah, yes, or no, Erik was gone.
Daisy glared at her brother. Couldn't he have stayed asleep for another hour or two?
"Maybe you two had better get a room of your own," Alex said dryly.
"Oh, shut up!" Daisy said irritably.
Muttering under his breath, Erik darted from Daisy's room to his own. The rising sun burned his eyes, but it was nothing to the fire burning in his loins. Damn her brother's untimely interference!
Slamming the door, Erik stood with his back against it for a moment, cursing his bad luck. Another five minutes and he would have had Daisy in his arms, in his bed.
After locking the door, he drew the curtains over the windows, then surveyed the room that would be his tomb until sunset. It was remarkably unremarkable, with dark furniture and nondescript carpeting. He grunted softly as he glanced at the insipid painting on the wall over the dresser. A monkey could have done better.
Throwing back the covers on the bed, he stretched out on the mattress and closed his eyes. Daisy's image quickly came to mind, her hair like a cloud of russet-colored silk, her skin smooth and clear and warm. And her eyes...they sparkled like green fire. He had often heard it said that the eyes were windows to the soul. If that was true, then Daisy O'Donnell had the soul of an angel.
He laughed softly. An angelic Blood Thief. That was something you didn't run into every day.
Daisy. Her image lingered in his mind as his body relaxed, slowly succumbing to the lethargy that drained his strength and his consciousness.
Daisy paced the floor of the motel room. She and Alex had finished breakfast hours ago and now Alex's soft snores told her he was asleep again. She sighed with frustration. Her brother could sleep anytime, anywhere.
She glanced at her watch, dismayed to see that it wasn't even noon yet. She switched on the air conditioner to drown out the sound of her brother sleeping. If only she had a book to read.
Sitting on the foot of her bed, she switched on the TV and flipped through the stations. Game shows and soap operas, soap operas and game shows. In this so-called age of enlightenment, you'd think programmers could come up with something more original and interesting.
Switching off the set, she pulled her phone from her handbag and called home.
Her mother answered on the second ring. "Daisy, is something wrong?"
"No, Mom, why would you think that?"
"Well, we haven't heard from you much lately. Your dad's been trying to get in touch with Alex, but he doesn't answer his phone. Have you talked to him?"
"Alex is fine, Mom. He's with me. We're on our way home."
"There is something wrong," Irene O'Donnell said. "Are you hurt?"
"We're both fine."
"Your dad wants to know if Alex found Rhys."
"We found him," Daisy said, and quickly told her mother what had happened, omitting the part that Erik had played in saving Alex's life.
"But you're both all right?"
"Yes." Daisy took a deep breath. "And so is Rhys."
"I'll let your father know. How soon will you be home?"
"A couple of days, I guess. I'm bringing a guest."
"Oh?" There was a wealth of unasked questions in that simple word.
"Yes, Mom, a man. A very special man."
"That's wonderful, dear. You're sure you're all right?"
"Yes, Mom, stop worrying."
"I can't help it. That's what mothers are for. Have you talked to Brandon lately?"
"No, why?"
"He's in love."
"Really?" Daisy asked, feigning surprise. "Who's the girl?"
"Kevin's sister, Paula, can you believe it? He just told us about it last night. It sounds serious."
"How long have they been dating?"
"Only a few weeks, but he's very much in love."
"So soon?" Daisy asked, and then wondered why she was so surprised. There had been a time when she didn't believe in love at first sight, but that was before she met Erik.
"I think he's planning to propose. He told us he was out looking at engagement rings last night."
"That's wonderful, Mom, I'm happy for him. Listen, I've got to go, my battery's almost out of juice. I'll see you soon."
"About that," Irene said. "Your aunt Judy and I are leaving for New Zealand in the morning. We'll be gone for two weeks."
Aunt Judy had never married. She had been a schoolteacher for twenty years. She had taken a vacation every year since she retired, and she always dragged Daisy's mother along with her. Daisy had mixed feelings about her mother being gone. On the one hand, she would miss seeing her, sure. But on the other hand, it meant her mother wouldn't be bugging her about Kevin O'Reilly, although she probably wouldn't say anything as long as Erik was there.
"That's okay, Mom."
"I wish I'd known sooner that you were coming, but it's too late to cancel the trip now."
"Don't worry about it. Have a wonderful time. I'll see you when you get home."