“Is this an order?”
“Yes.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Harley was exhausted when she crawled into bed. She had little energy left after she cast a few minor spells. She’d set up an alarm on the door and the bed. She also used a minor protection spell hoping to save her life long enough to become fully awakened should she come under attack.
She fell asleep quickly and almost immediately began to dream. She was walking alone in the forest. The moon was full and shone bright enough to light her way.
She followed an unknown path. The sounds of crickets, owls, and even wolves surrounded her. None of the sounds frightened her. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The sounds were soothing.
The evening air was cool, but not cold. There were so many stars. She must be far from light pollution. She could see thousands upon thousands of stars.
Fireflies danced around her as she walked down the dimly lit path. She felt safe, happy. The sounds of music caught her attention. She changed direction and followed it.
Harley followed the hauntingly beautiful music to find a small clearing. The clearing was lit with hundreds of candles and off to one side, Luciano sat playing a cello.
He looked up at her and smiled, but continued to play. She walked closer, watching him. His jacket was off. The white poet style shirt was mostly unbuttoned so she could see more of his chest. His long hair unbound fell to his waist. He wore old-fashioned knee breeches and what looked like riding boots.
His eyes beckoned her forward. She stepped into a beam of moonlight that was only a few inches away, watching his nimble fingers glide over the strings of the cello.
He finished the song and rose to meet her. He took her hand in his, brushing his lips against the back of her hand.
Looking deep into her eyes, he kissed the back of her hand again, his lips grazing each knuckle of her hand, sending shivers of delight over her.
Returning his gaze, she saw desire there. Raw, unbridled passion. He removed his lips from the back of her hand and leaned down to kiss her.
His lips barely brushed hers. It was as soft as butterfly wings fluttering against her skin. One of his hands had slipped down to her back, which Harley realized was bare. When he pulled back slightly, she glanced down.
A deep, red silk gown, clung to every curve. It was backless and had a slit going up either leg to her hip. Wispy straps barely held the dress up over her large breasts. Her feet and legs were bare and she wasn’t wearing anything underneath it.
The silk felt good on her skin. So, did the warmth of his hand in the curve of her back. Pulling her closer, he placed kisses on the bridge her nose, her cheeks and then down one side of her neck.
She reflexively reached for him, putting one hand on his shoulder while the other explored a bare expanse of his chest.
His skin was warmer to the touch than she thought it would be. She’d heard that a vampire’s skin was cool to the touch. She reveled in the feel of the light smattering of hair that covered his chest. It reminded her a little of Tom Selleck, or at least how she imagined his chest would feel.
Luciano continued to place kisses on her neck, moving down now to her collar bone. She swayed against him as heat began to play along her skin, where he touched her.
She couldn’t believe this exquisite looking man was seducing her. His lips played awhile at the hollow of her neck before he continued down her shoulder.
Using his free hand, he caressed the side of her face with the back of his hand before cupping her chin and pulling her into a deeper kiss.
His lips pressing firmly against hers. His hands pulling her closer. She was pressed against the length of him and could feel his hardness. Her excitement began to grow as his tongue began to explore her lips. He traced her lips with the tip of his tongue, exploring, tasting, and letting her know he wanted so much more.
She opened her mouth to him. Her tongue met his. He tasted like honey, with just a bit of spice. Her senses prickling at the energy that began to engulf the two of them.
The energy was taking on a life of its own. It beckoned them to delve deeper into their desires.
Luciano lifted her off her feet, without breaking the kiss and carried her further into the clearing. To her surprise, he laid her on a soft bedding like object.
She hadn’t seen a bed there earlier. Then again, she really wasn’t paying that much attention to anything other than Luciano. She was too mesmerized by his cello playing.
He continued kissing her. Taking his lips away from her mouth and kissing the cheek he had neglected before. His mouth creating a hot trail of desire as his lips, once again, touched her throat.
Pausing at the base of her neck, he licked her pulse. She held her breath. Her heart beat faster. Would he bite her?
His teeth did gently graze the pulse of her throat. She sucked in air, gasping at the erotic pleasure of the action.
His lips continued down until they reached the swell of her breasts. She moaned when he took the first nipple into his mouth. He hadn’t bothered to pull the gown down. The silk becoming as wet as she was, as he tongued her nipple into hardness.
Harley moaned with pleasure as he bit and teased the nipple through the silk fabric. After several loud moans, Luciano’s attention focused on the other nipple. This one he did set free of its silken prison.
Harley arched her back,
