Black Sunshine (Dark Eyes 1)

There for the taking.

So take it.

“Lenore?”

I blink, lift my face from the sheets in time to see the lamp switch on (Queen Victoria’s lamp, I guess), then Wolf step into frame. “Am I disturbing you?” he asks.

I stare at him for a moment, my cheeks going red over the memories of him between my legs. Two days…maybe it’s good I don’t remember it all.

“You think I want another round?” I ask him, my voice thick with sleep. “Because I don’t.”

He smiles at me, an easy grin that reaches his golden eyes. “I would if you were game, but otherwise, no.” He looks flustered for a moment. “Not that I didn’t enjoy it…”

“It’s fine,” I say.

God, please don’t say another word about it.

He stares at me, questioningly.

“Are you reading my thoughts?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “I don’t have that ability.”

“Ability,” I muse. “So it’s not a vampire thing?”

“It’s a Solon thing,” he says. He gestures to my arms. “Would you like me to untie you?”

I nod.

“Solon isn’t your average vampire,” Wolf goes on, undoing my right wrist first. He smells like dill and mint.

“Great,” I mutter. “Just my luck to be

kidnapped by an extraordinary vampire.” I pause. “What makes him so special?”

Other than the fact that I can tell he just is.

Wolf eyes me for a moment before he reaches over and undoes my other wrist, my skin aching as the pressure is released. “Maybe the same thing that makes you so special.”

“He’s part witch?”

He shakes his head, suppressing a smile. “No. And it would kill him to hear you say that…so maybe save that as ammo for another day. He’s sure to piss you off again.”

With the rope off my wrists, I push myself up, my back aching. I thought vampires didn’t get aches and pains. Shitty deal.

Wolf moves down to my ankles, his light brown hair gleaming blonde in the candlelight.

“Why are you untying me?” I ask. “Are you helping me escape?”

“Escape?” he says, looking up at me, brow creasing slightly. “No. There’s no escape.”

He says it so simply that it detonates in my heart.

He gives me a quick smile. “Sorry. That didn’t come out right.”

“But it’s the truth, right?”

“It’s the truth.” He sighs and goes over to my other ankle. “I’m untying you because Solon told me to do so.”