“Thank you.” She covers my mouth with hers, and I groan right before I roll her to her back and take everything she so willingly gives.
8
Cameron
“How is it possible for you to be out in the sun like this?”
At Isabel’s question, I look down at her face peering up at me. It’s been three days since we left Scotland for my house on an island in the middle of nowhere, and in that time, I haven’t thought much about what’s to come. I’ve spent every waking moment enjoying her, our time together, time that was taken from us.
“Unlike what’s said about my kind, we don’t live in darkness. We live just like humans except much longer.”
“And you drink blood.”
“Yes,” I agree with a wicked grin, watching her eyes darken with desire as we both recall just how much we enjoyed my feeding this morning.
Her fingers graze my cheek and her expression fills with worry. “The week’s almost over.”
“Don’t, love.” I take hold of her face. “I need to enjoy this moment with you. Please give that to me.”
“Okay,” she agrees quietly.
I lift up and touch my mouth to hers. “Tell me what brought you to Scotland?” I lie back in the sand, and she settles her warm body covered with nothing but a few scraps of fabric against me. The only reason I’ve allowed her to be out near the beach wearing that, is because I can smell the men I hired, and I know they’re a good distance away from us and will never see what is for me and me alone.
“A guy.”
My nostrils flare and jealousy turns my stomach. “A boyfriend?” The question is spoken between clenched teeth.
“No, he wasn’t my anything, but I wanted him to be. So when he asked me to come with him to Scotland, a place I always wanted to go, I accepted.”
“Where is he now?” So I can kill him, I think, but do not say out loud.
She laughs, and I peer at her through narrowed eyes. “You have nothing to be jealous about. I never even kissed him. And besides, he’s in love with someone else.”
“I’m not jealous,” I deny.
She chuckles again, her long, blonde hair flying back, gliding down her shoulders and across my chest. “It’s okay that you are. I remember.” Her expression softens on mine.
“Remember what?” I question. Each day, she’s remembering more and more about our past together.
“You acting like a caveman whenever a man tried to speak to me. I remember you glaring any time a guy even looked at me for too long.”
“You’re mine.”
“I know, and you’ve always made that clear.”
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“I don’t have dark hair or green eyes anymore,” she whispers, looking away.
“No,” I agree. “Now your hair looks like the sun, like it was spun from the finest silk.” I weave my fingers through the long, silky length and pull her mouth toward mine, forcing her to look at me. “Your eyes are also different, but your soul is the same. The woman you were then and the woman you are now holds my heart. I love you, Isabel.”
I lick across her mouth, tasting her tears as we kiss.
“Take me inside and show me just how much I belong to you.”
I don’t hesitate. I get up and lift her off the sand then carry her inside.
When her body and mine become one, I lose myself inside the only woman I’ve ever loved, knowing that nothing else but the connection I feel with her matters.
9
Cameron
“Are you sure it’s wise to leave tomorrow?” Angus questions quietly, and my hand balls into a fist. The week has gone far too quickly, has seemed like nothing more than a flash of light across the night sky. I look out the window of my office to where Isabel is currently asleep in one of the hammocks on the deck under the shade. The book she was reading lies against her chest, her long lashes resting against her cheeks, her hair down around her now tan shoulders. I don’t want to leave her, but since being here, I’ve received a message from Samuel every day, each sounding more impatient than the last.
“You know I do not have a choice. I need to go, need to attempt to explain things. We can’t live here forever. Eventually, they will come for me and her.” That thought causes fear like I’ve never felt—not for me, but for her.
“Forever? Do I need to remind you that she’s a female a human female? Not only is it against the law for you two to be together, female humans haven’t been turned in centuries.”
I turn to glare at him. “Don’t,” I hiss. “Do not remind me of that now, not when I’m about to leave.” I cannot stand the idea of losing her again, of watching her age, watching her grow old. She’s brought it up since we’ve been here. Brought up what will happen when her hair grays and her body slowly withers away. As I told her, I can’t think about that truth—not right now. Not that I haven’t done some research on the matter. So far, I’ve found nothing of value. Everything is mixed up with folklore and myths. Some say if she takes my blood she’ll live longer; others say I just need to feed from her daily and that will extend her life. I’m hoping while with Samuel I can speak to Nual, the man who is responsible for keeping the records of the vampires and their lines. Maybe he will know something. Maybe he will be able to tell me if a vampire and human have ever mated and gone on to live for centuries.