“For what?”
“To avoid a final claim.” His eyes were as black as a starless night. “If I drink with you at the same time I am inside you, it will be done. Are you sure?”
She had never been surer of anything in her life. She reached up, drawing his head to her throat. At the same instant she felt him enter her, making her feel so full and so possessed.
She never felt his teeth plunge into her throat, but she knew when it happened anyway.
They became one in that unimaginable way. She felt his heart pounding as if it were her own, felt her blood running in her veins and his. Felt every thrust he made as if she were making it as well as receiving it.
Pleasure doubled, grew, lifting her higher than she’d ever gone, even on the night of the ritual. No longer did she feel as if she were separate in any way. Never had she imagined such a union was possible.
Yet it was. Entirely one body, one heart, one mind, they rose to dizzying heights, and when culmination came, they exploded at the same time.
Together they hovered at the pinnacle of completion, awash in a tide of feelings and sensations that didn’t end.
Love for eternity.
A week later they had a condo in a building across town. A vampire named Creed Preston and his wife, Yvonne, helped them find it, and Creed helped them make a room that was safe for Damien during the daylight.
Caro was surprised, but apparently money was no object for Damien, so they bought the penthouse, and the work to fix it for him was completed rapidly. They held a small housewarming party, though they hadn’t finished decorating yet, and even Detective Pat Matthews came.
It was night—the city lights glowed beyond walls of windows. Pat drew her aside.
“You look damn happy,” she said.
“I am,” Caro admitted. “Happier than I ever imagined I’d be.”
“Good. Got yourself a bit of a weirdo there, but I like him.”
Caro smothered a smile. “He’s good to me.”
“Only thing that counts,” Pat agreed. “Malloy sent a message, by the way.”
“And?”
“Get your butt back tomorrow or the next day. All is forgiven. Apparently those additional murders made him reconsider your sanity.”
Caro laughed. “Really.”
“Really. A lot that’s weird is going on. He just asked you to please not mention it.”
“I won’t. I promise.” There was no need now.
“And that request you made to help those folks find homes?”
“Yes?”
“We’ve started working on it but it would be nice if
“I promise.” She watched Pat drift away to talk with Jude and Terri, then felt familiar arms close around her from behind.
“Are you pleased,
She turned within the circle of his arms and looked up at the vampire she loved more than life. “I’m very pleased. And one of these days...”
He laid his finger over her lips. “Don’t ask yet,
“Okay,” she agreed.
But deep inside she knew the question wouldn’t be shelved for long. There’d come a day when she would want to share his nights completely, to see them the way he did.
And when that day came, she had no doubt she would get her way.
“I love you,” she murmured and watched his eyes grow golden with pleasure.
She was forever claimed, and forever his.
* * * * *
