Night's Kiss (Children of The Night 1)

Perhaps she needed to find a job.

The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea of earning her own money. But what could she do? She wasn't qualified to work in an office. She didn't have a college education, but surely there was something she could do. "What do you think, Morgana?"

With a shake of her head, Morgana rolled onto her back.

"Perhaps Myra would give me a job at the bookstore," Brenna said, thinking aloud. "Maybe I could sell books or wait tables. Of course, he would not like it" She scratched Morgana's tummy for a few minutes, and then smiled a conspiratorial smile. "Of course, there is no need for us to tell Mr. DeLongpre." Her smile faded. "Perhaps the bookstore is not the right place to look for employment. Mr. Loken visits there all too often."

Thinking of Anthony Loken brought Jimmy Dugan to mind. She was certain that the young vampire had died in Loken's pursuit of eternal life. Thinking of Jimmy Dugan brought tears to her eyes. Though she had known very little about him, it was sad to think that he had died so young.

Sniffling, she closed her eyes, only to open them again a moment later, certain that she was no longer alone in the room. "Roshan?"

He materialized beside the bed, his black clothing blending into the darkness of the room. "I thought you would be asleep by now."

She shook her head. "I was thinking of Mr. Dugan."

Roshan grunted softly. "I'm afraid Loken has another victim."

"Oh, no! Who?"

"A young man he met at the Nocturne tonight."

She stared up at him, her green eyes filled with concern. "Is there nothing you can do?"

"I called the police, for all the good it did. They searched his house but didn't find anything. I should have known they wouldn't."

"At least you tried. That is all you can do."

He nodded, thoughts of the unknown young man's fate receding as Brenna's nearness filled his senses. She was here, in his house, in his bed, and he wanted her. Sitting on the edge of the mattress, he murmured her name.

Brenna shivered as his voice moved over her. She heard the question he didn't ask. Sitting up, she drew him closer, her kiss the unspoken answer to his unspoken question.

Roshan drew back a little. "Are you sure?"

"I doubt if I have ever been more sure of anything in my life."

"Sweetheart!"

He dragged her onto his lap, his mouth covering hers, his arms so tight around her she thought her ribs might be in danger of breaking, but then she was kissing him back, pain and pleasure mingling together, until there was nothing in all the world but his mouth on hers. Excitement fluttered in her stomach. Anticipation made her pulses race. His tongue was warm against her throat, his hands gentle as he caressed her.

Closing her eyes, she surrendered to the wealth of sensations that he aroused in her. Somehow, his clever hands managed to undress both of them, and then he was stretched out on the bed beside her. She had not intended for this to happen again and yet she had known, in her heart of hearts, that it was as inevitable as the sunrise.

Colors and images flooded her mind, shattering into rainbows of shimmering crystal as his body merged with hers. Her body arched to receive him more fully. Her nails raked his back. She felt his teeth graze her neck and she turned her head to the side, giving him better access to her throat. She moaned softly, her senses overwhelmed with sensation. How could something that should have filled her with revulsion feel so wonderful? In a distant part of her mind, she realized that she was feeling everything that he did, his yearning, not only for their physical joining, but for the sense of belonging that he found in her arms, as she found it in his. Pleasure engulfed her until she felt as though she were drowning in pure bliss, a pleasure so intense it was almost painful, and then she plunged over the edge into ecstasy, and at last fulfillment unlike anything she had ever experienced.

Rolling onto his back, Roshan drew Brenna up against his side, his arm holding her close. He had no reason to ask if she was all right, not when she was looking at him through heavy-lidded eyes, her expression that of a woman who had been well and truly loved.

"Is it this way for everyone?" she asked.

"No."

"How do you know? Have you taken many women to bed?" It was a foolish question. He had lived for hundreds of years. No doubt he'd had hundreds of women.

"Not so many, all things considered," he replied. "Certainly none like you." He brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "None so beautiful, or so tempting. None that I loved."

Her eyes widened. "You love me?"

"More than you can imagine."

"I do not know what to say."

"Say that you love me."

"Oh, I do," she murmured fervently. "I do love you." A soft smile played over her lips. "More than you can imagine."

"Then you'll stay with me?"

"Where would I go?"

"Anywhere you wish," he replied soberly. "Anytime you're not happy here, you have only to say the word I'll buy you a house of your own, if you wish, anywhere you want to live."

"Truly?"

He nodded. "Truly."

"That is most generous of you."

"It's little enough to give you in return for what you've given me."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "I have given you nothing."

"Oh, but you're wrong, my sweet Brenna. You gave me hope and a reason to go on living." He brushed a kiss across her lips. "You've given me the most precious gifts any woman can give to a man. Your innocence, your love, and your trust."

Turning onto her side, she wrapped her arms around him. "I do love you. So very, very much."

He kissed her gently. "Can you accept me as I am, Brenna? All of me?"

"Yes. I want to share your life, as much of it as I can."

He crushed her close, his heart overflowing as he rained kisses on her cheeks, her eyelids, the curve of her throat, the tip of her nose. "Promise me you'll never leave me."

"I promise."

It was a weighty promise, one he didn't expect her to keep but, for now, it was enough.

They made love again, more slowly this time, and then Roshan carried her into the shower and washed her from head to foot. They might have gotten out of the shower before the water grew cold if she hadn't taken the soap from his hand and returned the favor. Her soapy hands moving over his body was an erotic sensation he had never known before, one that had the expected results.