Dark Legacy (Dark 27)

Amelia indicated the ground, and Liv crouched low, searching for a moment. She picked up a rock and sent it skipping across the surface of the lake. Amelia followed suit. Both girls laughed.

"I love to see them like that," Emeline said. "Sisters are so wonderful together. Do you want more than one child, Dragomir?" She rubbed her palm protectively over the place the baby was nestled and safe.

He frowned, and her heart clenched hard in her chest. "As many as you want." His gaze remained on the children rather than on the lake.

She sat up straight, her hand going protectively over the baby. "Dragomir? Do you not want children? Because if you don't . . ." She trailed off. She was having a baby. If he didn't want children that was a big problem. Huge.

"Of course I want children. Why would you ask me that?" He dipped the oar in the water and they went soaring over the glassy surface.

He'd frowned, and she'd panicked. That was another testimony to the way she felt about herself. Unworthy. Not good enough for him. For someone to really love her or want a life with her. She was going to be the problem if she didn't watch it. What man liked a woman who was afraid every minute that he was going to leave her?

"Emeline." He said her name softly and her gaze jumped to his. His eyes had gone that molten gold she loved, as if it was melted and hot. "I want you any way I can have you. Children. No children. You're always going to be my world. There is no other and there never will be. I know you have a difficult time understanding the concept of lifemates, but you'll get it eventually. I would tell you to stop worrying, but I can see that won't help."

"I'll try, Dragomir," she promised. "It's just that for a moment I thought maybe you didn't want children, and I do. I want it all. The family, the home, the man who adores me just as much as I adore him." She ducked her head, her gaze going to the water, anywhere but facing that penetrating stare. "I want you to want that same thing. Especially the children."

"I want the same thing," he assured. "The more girls we have, the more lifemates we give to the Carpathian people."

She rested her head back, letting the gentle sway of the water lull her. "I never thought about that. How a child we have might save one of the males of the Carpathian race. All those women . . ." She broke off and closed her eyes, shaking her head as if to get the sight out of her mind.

"Those women?" he prompted.

"In Vadim's underground city. They were psychics. He told me they were, but not strong enough for his purposes. The bodies were piled up, and I could see half-formed babies, some fully formed, all dead. When those women died, they were lifemates, weren't they? Lifemates to some of the hunters waiting."

"More than likely. The loss was felt deeply. The souls will be reborn but there is no way of knowing if the hunters can hang on that long. That was part of Vadim's plan. If he takes the lifemates away, destroys them, more hunters will turn, helping him to create a larger army."

"If they know they'll be reborn . . ."

"There is no way of knowing when they will be reborn. What century. Where. The world is a big place, and some of these hunters have held on for centuries. When there is nothing to hold on to but honor, it can be very difficult."

She studied his face. He had suffered. It was there in his harsh male features. Dragomir would never have been called handsome in the traditional sense of the word--his features were too angular and male. Almost brutal. But he was beautiful and sensual. The scars on his face and body added to his appeal. He looked dangerous. Walking into a room, she knew he would command attention and scare most people. Maybe all of them.

"I hate that you had to wait so long."

"You are worth every moment of that wait." Sincerity rang in his voice.

She turned her head toward the shore where the children were playing. "Listen to the frogs. So many. It sounds like they're gathering for a frog concert."

"Noisy little things," he observed. "If I'm going to take you dancing in the stars, we need better music."

She liked the sound of dancing in the stars. For the first time, she allowed herself to fully relax. She tipped her head up and studied the constellations scattered overhead. The sky looked beautiful, so dark it was nearly blue, the stars and sliver of moon hot and glowing against that backdrop. There were a few drifting clouds, but they looked inviting rather than threatening.

More childish laughter caught her attention, and she turned her head to see the Waltons standing with Danny, talking to the two youngest. Mary Walton carried something cradled in her arms. Her husband, Donald, had a large gun slung around his shoulder. She sat up so fast she nearly spilled into the water.

"What in the world?" She stared at the couple as they laughed and talked with Danny. "Dragomir, they're carrying guns. Both of them. They're the sweetest couple. They live in the boathouse. I've never been in it, but the children tell me it's really nice and homey. Why in the world would Mary be carrying a gun? Or Donald, for that matter. They could hurt themselves."

"My understanding is they know how to use them. They're both efficient at it."

"I suppose they're protecting the children. I hate that Bella and Lourdes have to see that. And poor Liv. She's only ten, and she had those terrible creatures of Vadim's tearing at her, eating her alive. If it weren't for Valentin, she never would have made it out of there. I couldn't have saved her, nor could Blaze. It was Valentin."

The sound of the frogs increased and, along with them, the crickets started. She found herself laughing softly. She almost couldn't believe anything could make her laugh, not when she'd been thinking about Vadim's underground city and the atrocities he'd committed on men, women and children there. The frogs and crickets added a magical reality to the night.

"Listen to them. Any minute I expect them to burst into song."

"They are singing," he said. "Dance with me, sivamet. I believe I have pulled enough information out of your mind to lead you in a waltz." He put the oar down and the canoe glided by itself over the water to the dock nearest the Waltons' boathouse and away from the children. It was darker and more secluded.

He stood up, balancing easily, and held out his hand to her. She hesitated. They were still in the canoe and if she moved wrong, they could both fall into the water. He might be right--that she could swim--but she didn't want to test his theory there in the dark.

His white teeth flashed at her and his lower lip curved into the soft, intriguing smile she found herself watching for. "Emeline. Really? You think I would allow you to fall into the water? Especially since you're afraid. That would be cruel. I'm capable of great cruelty, but never to the woman I love. Give me your hand." He held out his hand to her.

Her heart went crazy, for him or out of fear, she wasn't certain which, but it beat like a drum out of rhythm. She placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. The canoe didn't so much as rock. That was all him. Looking out for her.

He moved then, shifted his feet, took them into the air so that her sandals hovered just above the canoe. His arm went around her back and he brought her hand up. His frame was superb, as good as any of the professionals she'd danced with. She put her hand on his shoulder and allowed him to pull her into his body. Close. Closer than she would ever have allowed any other dance partner.

His body felt wonderful. Strong. Male. Pure Dragomir. No other man could ever make her feel the mixtures of things he did. Or give her

the intensity of emotion he gave her. She felt safe and sexy, beautiful and intelligent. He listened to every word she said. Gave her strength and made her hope--believe--even if it was just for a few minutes.

Dragomir enfolded Emeline into his arms, guiding her body into the shelter of his. If dancing was what she loved, then he would be an expert dancer, guiding her up through the air toward the stars. The song that was playing over and over in her head played in his as well. He brought the music to life, hearing the beat in her head, feeling it in his body.

Below them, on the ground, the children continued to play together, Liv and Amelia skipping rocks on the lake, Danny and the little girls talking with the Waltons and Genevieve, who had joined them. The scene seemed surreal. He didn't care about any of them right in that moment. Only Emeline and her happiness.

They moved together in perfect rhythm. Dancing was like making love, he decided, his body guiding hers through the intricate steps as they danced up unseen stairs, going higher and higher until the clouds drifted past them.

He allowed her to step on one, ensuring that to her it appeared a fluffy white floor. He whirled her out and brought her back into him. All around them the stars shone brightly. Their cloud drifted across the sky as they danced to the music, her body moving in rhythm with his. He always was in control, yet when he was with Emeline, his body refused to listen to his commands, taking over, rebelling. Swelling with urgent need. She couldn't fail to feel his cock, hard and aching, pressed so tightly against her stomach.

"I love that you want me, Dragomir," she whispered. Her head was against his chest, her ear over his heart. "I want that always. I want to know when I walk into a room, you're aware of me. I'm always aware of you."

The sound of her voice whispering against the immaculate suit jacket he wore ratcheted up the hunger beating through him.

"From the first time I saw you in the yard with the others, I thought you were the sexiest man alive." She turned her head so her chin dug into his chest and her eyes were on his. "I daydreamed of you. I fantasized about you. I dreamt of you at night. Before Vadim's attack and certainly after, I never thought about sex. After I saw you, it was all I could think about."