As Twilight Falls

Saintcrow stood when she entered the room. A flash of admiration gleamed in his eyes when he saw her. She ignored it, just as she ignored his hand when he offered it to her.

In the car, she stared out the window, refusing to be drawn into conversation with him. She didn’t know what he was up to, or why he was being so nice, but she was sure he had some ulterior motive.

They crossed the bridge with no trouble at all.

Kadie felt a sense of anticipation as they approached a red light. With as much stealth as she could muster, she took hold of the door handle, held her breath as the car slowed to a stop.

Now! She jerked on the handle.

And nothing happened.

She tried again, with the same result.

Shoulders slumped in defeat, she slid a sideways glance at Saintcrow. He was looking straight ahead, but she didn’t miss the wry grin on his face. He had known, she thought. He had known all along that she would try to escape and so he’d used some of that notorious vampire mojo to thwart her.

Anger and frustration rose up within her, threatening to explode like a cork from a bottle. She took several deep breaths. If only she had a dagger, she thought darkly, she would cheerfully drive it into his black heart.

“I had no idea you were such a bloodthirsty little baggage,” he remarked mildly.

She glared at him. “Stop reading my mind!”

“It’s hard not to when you broadcast so loudly.” Minutes later, he pulled off the freeway and into the restaurant parking lot.

Inside, Saintcrow asked for a table for two.

In spite of her anger, Kadie couldn’t help noticing it was a lovely place as she followed the hostess. Murals of Italy covered the walls, the tables were spread with red-and-white checkered cloths. Music played in the background.

The hostess handed them menus and assured them that their waitress would be there shortly.

Kadie put her menu aside without looking at it.

“Have you already decided?” Saintcrow asked.

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

“So, you only agreed to this in hopes of escaping.” It wasn’t a question.

She stared at him, mute, her hope of freedom shattered.

The waitress arrived just then. “Buona sera,” she said, smiling as she placed a basket of garlic bread in the center of the table. “Have you decided yet? Or do you need a few more minutes?”

“A bottle of your best chardonnay,” Saintcrow said.

“Very good, sir.” The waitress looked at Kadie askance.

“You may as well eat,” Saintcrow said.

“Spaghetti and meatballs,” Kadie said sullenly.

“Soup or salad?”

“Salad, please, with Italian dressing. And iced tea, no lemon.”

“And for you, sir?”

“Just the wine.”

With a nod, the waitress collected their menus and left the table.

Kadie spread her napkin in her lap. “You knew what I had in mind all the time, didn’t you?”

He nodded. “It wasn’t too hard to figure out.”

“They told me no one has ever left Morgan Creek. Is that true?”

“You have.”

“You know what I mean.”

“No, no one’s ever left.”

“Do you think that’s right, keeping us all prisoners for your amusement?”

“I’m no longer concerned with right and wrong the way you know it.”

“Of course not. You’re a . . .” She glanced around. “What you are. I guess the rules the rest of us live by don’t apply to you.”

“Exactly.”

Kadie bit back her retort when the waitress arrived with the wine, Kadie’s iced tea, and salad.

Saintcrow poured a glass of wine for himself, then looked at Kadie.

She shook her head.

“Are you sure? It’s a very good year.”

“I don’t like wine. I don’t like you, and I never will.”

“You might not like me,” he said quietly, “but you want me.”

“I do not!” she said hotly.

“You can lie to yourself, Kadie, but you can’t lie to me.” He leaned forward, his gaze intent on her face. “I can taste the longing on you, smell it on your skin, hear it in the beat of your heart.”

She stared at him, mesmerized by the blatant desire in his eyes. His words wrapped around her, his breath caressing her.

Swearing softly he drew back when the waitress reappeared with Kadie’s dinner.

Kadie drew a deep, shuddering sigh. She could deny it until she turned blue in the face, but he was right.

She wanted him.

Kadie remained mute on the drive back to Saintcrow’s house. She felt him watching her several times, but she refused to meet his gaze. He wasn’t human. He was keeping her a prisoner in this accursed town. She might hate him, but there was no denying the attraction between them. But was it even real? If he could keep people from leaving here, if he could read her mind, how did she know that whatever she felt for him was genuine and not just more of his vampire tricks?

And even if what she felt was real, she wasn’t going to do anything about it.

As soon as he pulled into the driveway, she jumped out of the car and hurried up the porch steps. When she tried the door, it was locked.

He took his time getting out of the car.

She was all too aware of him when he came up behind her. Every nerve and cell in her body came to attention. His breath fanned her hair, his arm brushed hers as he reached past her to unlock the door, which he did merely by touching it. A little push and it swung open on well-oiled hinges.

Lights came on when she crossed the threshold.

More vampire magic? Or merely some sort of sensor? Without a word, she walked swiftly toward the staircase. Her hand was on the banister when his voice stopped her.

“Kadie.”

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him.

“I’m still hungry.”

She frowned. What did he expect her to do about it? she wondered, then felt her blood run cold. He wasn’t asking her to fix him dinner. She was dinner.

She turned away, her only thought to dash up the stairs to her room and lock the door, but her feet refused to obey. Was this how it was to be from now on? Would he feed on her every night? She told herself that wouldn’t happen. The vampires weren’t supposed to feed on any of them more than two or three times a week. But maybe the rules didn’t apply to Saintcrow.

He closed the distance between them in three long strides and then he was standing on the stair beside her, towering over her. His hand slid around her nape, his fingers gently massaging her neck.