Even as the thought crossed her mind, a little voice asked if she would feel the same if she managed to rid herself of the curse. Would she still be happy to share her life with a vampire? And what of children? Santiago couldn't father a child, but there were other ways. Adoption. Sperm donors… She shook her head. She could see herself now, sitting on the bed with her child, trying to explain why daddy couldn't take him to the zoo or go to the park and play catch on a summer day, and why mommy turned furry when the moon was full.
She shook the thought aside. Kids were flexible. Having a dad who couldn't go outside in the daytime wasn't much different than having a dad who worked nights and slept days. But a mother who turned into a wolf? How would she explain that?
With a shake of her head, she stuffed the tests into her briefcase and left the building. Vampires, werewolves, children, marriage—none of it mattered. What mattered was that she loved Joaquin Santiago and she wasn't going to let another day go by without asking him to forgive her for being such an idiot. She loved him and she needed him and she intended to have him, all of him, now, tonight.
Whistling softly, she jumped into the car and headed for his place, glad that it was Friday night. If she was lucky, they could make love all weekend long.
Santiago stared at the woman standing in the doorway. Was she really there, or had his insatiable need for her conjured her image?
"Regan?"
"Hi," she said softly. "Can I come in?"
She wasn't a figment of his tortured imagination after all. "Of course."
He stepped back, allowing her entrance to his lair in the Byways, then closed and locked the door. He stood there a moment, inhaling the fragrance of her hair and skin, the alluring scent of her blood, appreciating the beauty of her face and form. He didn't know why she was there, but it didn't matter. The fact that she was there was like an unexpected gift and he intended to savor it for as long as possible.
He gestured toward the sofa. "Please, sit."
She remained standing, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"No. Is something wrong?"
"No. Yes." Taking a deep breath, she crossed her arms over her chest. "I…"
He tilted his head to one side. "Go on."
"I love you."
He lifted one brow. "I know."
"Do you still love me?"
He frowned at her. "Of course."
"Remember when you said you wouldn't mind marrying a werewolf?"
A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth. "Yes."
"Would you mind marrying me?"
"Are you proposing?"
"Yes. Should I get down on one knee?"
He laughed softly as he drew her into his embrace. "No, my love. I will marry you whenever you wish." He dropped kisses across her cheek, her nose, her lips. "What has changed your mind?"
"I guess I just came to my senses. I love you and I need you and tonight I asked myself why we were apart. I'm happy only when I'm with you."
"What of children?"
"I don't know. Maybe we could adopt or… I don't know. I just know I don't want to live another day, or night, without you."
"Regan, do you remember the promise I made you?"
"You promised to see that I have everything I want."
"Yes. Are you sure this is what you want? That I am what you want?"
"Very sure."
"What of the future? What if you destroy Vasile and break the curse? I cannot promise that I will let you go if you change your mind."
"I won't change my mind. I've given it a lot of thought," she said, laughing softly. "I don't think I've thought of anything else in the last few weeks."
He looked at her a moment, as if weighing her sincerity, and then he kissed her, long and hard, and she knew there was no going back. This was where she belonged. Werewolf or mortal, for now and always, this was where she wanted to be.
When he would have broken the kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close, her tongue sliding over his lower lip, her body pressing against his in silent invitation.
"Regan." He murmured her name, his voice ragged. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, aren't you?"
"I do not want you to be sorry later."
"I won't be," she said, and taking him by the hand, she led him into the bedroom. "I want you," she whispered, her voice husky. "More than ever."
She didn't have to tell him again. Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her, his hands making short work of her clothing until she stood naked before him.
Naked and blushing furiously.
He found it most becoming.
Biting down on her lower lip, she drew his shirt over his head, unfastened his belt, and removed his trousers.
Her blush deepened at the visible sign of his desire.
She sighed when he drew her into his arms and carried her to bed.
"You are beautiful," he murmured.
"So are you."
"Indeed." He kissed her then, a long deep kiss that made her toes curl with anticipation while her imagination conjured images of their entwined bodies writhing on black satin sheets.
Lifting her into his arms, Santiago drew back the covers on the bed and lowered her to the mattress, then stretched out beside her.
Regan shivered with trepidation when she felt the cool reality of those satin sheets against her bare back.
"Still sure?" he asked, sensing her hesitation.
"Yes, it's just that… well, you see, I've…"
"Go on."
"I've never done this before," she confessed in a rush.
"Never?" He shook his head in disbelief. "How can that be?"
"Well, I… I just…" She looked away, her face heating with embarrassment. "I promised my grandmother I'd wait until I was married or twenty-one, whichever came first."
"Are you telling me you are not twenty-one?"
"No, but, well, when I went into vampire hunting, dates got kind of scarce."
"What of Flynn? You never… ?"
"We've only been dating seriously for a few months. Besides, I never loved him that way."
Santiago rolled onto his back, one arm across his eyes.
Wishing she could just disappear, Regan pulled the covers up to her chin. "I thought you'd be pleased."
He rolled onto his side to face her. "I am," he said, "more than you can imagine."
"Then why did you stop?"