Laurel Rose tossed her comb aside and padded back to her bedroom, her mind still occupied with her earlier interaction with Stefan. She yanked open a dresser drawer and pulled out a clean pair of underwear. She dropped the towel from around her body and stepped into her panties, tugging them into place.

  He was protecting her. It was as if the words were emblazoned across her brain in neon lights. He felt guilty about what he’d done and was now stepping away from her so that all the choice was hers. The man was protecting her from himself.

  “Of all the stupid, lamebrain things to do,” she muttered as she hauled on a pair of jeans and grabbed a blouse. She didn’t even bother with a bra. Stefan was somewhere out in the woods. She sensed he was still close. He would not leave her without being certain she was all right.

  He might think he was giving her a choice, but by leaving he was once again making it for her. He automatically assumed that she wouldn’t want to be with him. By offering money and assistance, he was protecting himself emotionally.

  She yanked on her sneakers, still muttering under her breath. “How dare he just leave?” She was going to find him, and after she’d finished yelling at him and shaking some sense into him, she was going to love him so hard that he’d never have any doubts about her feelings again.

  Slumping back on the bed, she buried her face in her hands. She knew she was right. She had to be. His every action showed his love for her even if he didn’t say it. “Stubborn man.”

  Laurel Rose’s head jerked up as feminine laughter filled the air. “You must be talking about Stefan. Dalakis men are all alike.” A brown-haired, blue-eyed woman walked toward her with a smile on her face. “I’m Delight Dalakis, Lucian’s wife. You must be Laurel Rose.”

  Laurel Rose stood and faced the other woman. “I know you. You were here last night.”

  Delight nodded. “All of us were here in case Stefan needed us. Where is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Bending down, Laurel Rose tied her sneakers.

  “Trouble?” Delight moved closer. “I don’t mean to pry, but if there is anything I can do to help, all you have to do is ask.”

  Laurel Rose sensed the other woman’s sincerity and it rocked her to the core. She was so used to being alone, used to doing everything for herself, that asking for help was a totally foreign concept to her.

  “I don’t know if anyone can help, but thank you. I’m going to go looking for Stefan.” She brushed past the other woman and headed toward the door. Laurel Rose stopped and looked back at Delight, uncertainty filling her. “But, if you’re around when I get back, maybe . . .” She took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “Maybe we could talk.”

  Delight smiled at her. “Of course, Laurel Rose. But a word of advice, if I may.” She paused and waited until Laurel Rose nodded. “Whatever has gone on between the two of you, Stefan feels very deeply for you. More than you can even begin to imagine. And whatever he’s done, he’s had your best interests at heart.”

  “I know,” she whispered, her eyes going back to the crumpled bedcovers. Stefan always seemed to be taking care of her. Now it was her turn to take care of him. “I’ll be back.”

  She hurried down the stairs and rushed out the back door. She sensed other people had congregated in her home, people who hadn’t been there only moments before—his family. Maybe it was rude, but she ignored them. She wasn’t ready to deal with anyone but Stefan.

  Trusting her instincts, she plunged into the forest to the right of the house, and when the night swallowed her in its dark embrace, she began to run.

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Stefan sat on his haunches, panting for breath. He stared up at the moon, but not even the pleasure of the beautiful night sky could soothe him. He’d been running since he’d left Laurel Rose, but his journey had taken him full circle, and once again he was in the woods just beyond her home. He could not leave her. She was the very breath in his body, the light in his life, his reason for existing.

  A slight noise off to his left alerted him that he was no longer alone. It was no more than the brush of fabric against a leaf, but he didn’t need any more than that. Keeping himself still, he watched as she entered the small clearing. She stumbled to a stop when she saw him sitting there.

  Tipping back his head, he howled once again—a large, silver-gray wolf baying at the moon. Part of him was hoping that she’d be frightened of the beast and leave him to his solitude. But he knew better. She hadn’t been afraid of the wolf before and she certainly wasn’t afraid now.

  “Stefan?” She inched closer, one step at a time, as if not to frighten him away, which was ludicrous. He was much bigger and stronger than her. But he had run from her, not wanting to linger in her presence for fear she would order him away.

  “It is you, isn’t it? I meant to ask you about that before, but the right opportunity never arose.” She laughed. “I could hardly come right out and ask if you could shift into a wolf, could I?”

  Stefan was frozen in place as she continued to inch nearer. Her hair was a black curtain flowing down her back, fluttering in the light breeze. Her eyes were dark and mysterious in the moonlight. But it was the gentle smile on her face that was his undoing. The inner beauty of her soul shone from within as she approached him.

  His lips curled back and he growled at her, baring his sharp teeth. She hesitated, but only for a heartbeat. “I know you won’t hurt me.”

  Not hurt her! He’d barged into her life and changed it forever. The last thing he’d ever wanted to do was hurt her, but there was no disguising what he’d done. Before she touched him, he began to transform. His limbs lengthened and changed and the hair on his body receded. Before her wide, stunned eyes, he transformed from beast to man. He waited for her to scream, to turn and flee from him.

  Her eyes widened. “That is so cool.” She took the final step that brought her beside him and placed her palm in the center of his chest, right over his beating heart. “Can I do that?”

  He frowned, his brows drawing together. Why wasn’t she running in terror? “Given time and practice, you may be able to shift. Not all who are converted can. The wolf is the easiest form for us to take, but you may be able to shift into others as well.”

  “That’s just amazing.” She stared up at him, an awed expression on her face. Her hand was rubbing small circles on his chest, and he realized that she had no idea she was doing it.

  Back in human form, his body immediately reacted to her presence, tightening and swelling with anticipation and growing need. The urge to claim her was strong. The beast inside him demanded he take her, bind her to him, and never let her go. It was a constant struggle, a battle he fought within himself, but he managed to leash his animal instincts. Barely.

  He was still more man than beast and he’d already taken too much from her. That which was not freely given had no value at all. The long, lonely centuries in darkness, studying human nature, had taught him that much.

  The light breeze cooled his heated flesh and he welcomed it. His cock was hard and heavy, thrusting out in front of him. He could smell the familiar scent of her soap and knew that she’d bathed. She looked fresh and clean and pure standing before him. She was all he’d ever wanted, but he cared too much to take any more from her.

  He forced himself to take a step backward, away from her. Her hand dropped to her side and he inwardly cringed at the flash of momentary pain that filled her beautiful blue eyes. “Why are you here?” His voice was harsher than he intended and she flinched.

  “Because you are.”

  Her three simple words almost destroyed him, but he kept his expression impassive. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared at her, careful to keep all expression from his face. “Did you need something from me?”

  She raised her hand toward him and then let it fall again. “Yes, I did.” Sighing, she rubbed her fingers across her forehead. She sounded tired. It took every ounce of discipline he possessed not to wrap her in his arms and promise her that everything would be all right. “I thought you might need something too, but I was mistaken.”

  “What did you need?”

  She shook her head and turned away from him, wandering around the small clearing. “Will you leave now and go away?”

  Stefan’s jaw clenched tight. “Yes,” he spit out.

  Laurel Rose nodded. “So our relationship meant nothing more to you than a roll in the sack. I was just a convenience to you.”

  A red haze covered his eyes as a fierce fury rose up within him. He didn’t remember moving, but his hands were locked around her upper arms and he was shaking Laurel Rose. “Don’t you say that. Don’t even think it.”

  “Why? You were quick enough to leave.”

  Anger pounded in his brain and coursed through his body. That she would even think such a thing was an abomination to him. “I was protecting you.”

  “From what?” Her soft, gentle voice flowed over him like a cooling balm.

  He dropped his forehead until it was touching hers. “From me. From what I am. From the life I live.” Sighing, he soothed his hands down her arms and wrapped them around her waist. Laurel Rose snuggled closer, nestling her body against his. “I did not give you a choice, Laurel Rose. You do not understand how your life has changed.”

  “Tell me?”

  He automatically began to stroke his hand over her back, offering her silent comfort. “Sunlight is beyond your grasp for all time. The night is your only haven now.” He bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I have taken it from you.”

  “The night’s not so bad.” Her words were muffled against his chest as she placed a soft kiss there. “I like the night.”

  “You must have blood, or you will die. You do not have to take it from humans if that is distasteful to you. I can arrange for blood to be shipped to you on a regular basis.”

  “But I’ve seen you eat.” Her nimble lips kissed a path to his flat nipple before flicking it with her tongue. It was becoming impossible for him to think.

  “Yes. Your body can tolerate small amounts of food. You do not need it to survive, but if you still want to taste something, you can. Given time, you can even consume a full meal if it is something you wish to do. But you must do it sparingly or your body will reject it.” His fingers flexed around her skull, holding her face tight to his chest as she continued to torment him with her clever tongue.

  “Good. I definitely don’t want to have to give up chocolate or ice cream.”

  Her answer made him think of his sisters-in-law and he laughed. “Johanna and Delight said much the same thing.”

  “Smart ladies.” Laurel Rose stroked one of her hands over his chest, sliding it lower.

  Stefan trapped it against his stomach. “I have tethered your life to mine now. If I die, so will you. But I will not keep you against your will. You will be free to choose the life you want to live. I have turned you into a vampire like myself. You are now the stuff of legends, to be feared and scorned, and for that, I am sorry.”

  “Why?” She sounded almost impatient with him. He’d poured his fears out to her, apologizing for what he’d taken from her, and she sounded more peeved than anything.

  “Why?” he echoed incredulously.

  She leaned back and gave a quick nod. “Yes, why are you sorry? Stefan, I’ve lived my whole life being feared and scorned for what I am. You haven’t changed my life at all. As for the other . . . well, I’m not thrilled about having to drink blood to survive, although I didn’t seem to have any trouble taking yours.” She laughed and its low, sultry tones made his body shudder with desire. “In fact, I think I rather enjoyed it.”

  She paused as she thought. “Not being able to go out in the day is a bit of a problem, especially during the summer months. But I can do most of my business mail order and maybe hire a teenager from town to do the farmer’s market for me. I can adjust.”

  Stefan could hardly believe how easily she seemed to be accepting everything. Surely she hadn’t thought everything through yet. But Laurel Rose wasn’t finished.

  “But you have changed me.” She pushed away from him and, although it pained him to do so, he let her go.

  “I know. And as much as I might wish to go back and make things different, I cannot.” And deep down inside, he really didn’t want to change things. He needed her to be like him, yearned for her to be with him for eternity.

  “Well, there is no going back. You taught me what it was like to not be alone.” Her hands went to the front of her blouse and she began to unbutton it. “You taught me how wonderful sex could be between a man and a woman.”

  The lapels spread open as each button slipped from the hole, revealing her smooth, soft skin beneath. She wasn’t wearing a bra. Stefan’s hands clenched at his sides. He wanted to reach out and rip the garment wide open, exposing her breasts to him.

  “You made me feel beautiful and sexy.” Ever so slowly, she parted the fabric. Her breasts swayed as she shrugged her shoulders and the blouse slipped down her arms, falling to the ground behind her. “If you’re going to go away, then I want to feel that way one last time.” Sliding her hands up her stomach, she cupped her breasts in her hands. As he watched, she circled her puckered nipples with her thumbs. “Will you love me one last time?”

  Stefan fell to his knees in front of her, his hands fisted on his thighs as he gasped for breath. He had to make her understand. Raising his head, he allowed her to see the beast once more. He could feel his eyes changing and knew they were tinged with red. His fangs lengthened and grew as he stared up at her. His cock jutted out before him, announcing that he was more than ready to fuck her. He showed her all that he was, hiding nothing.

  “If I take you now, there is no going back. I will never let you go,” he snarled. “You will be mine for all eternity. I’ll fuck you whenever I want, wherever I want, and as many times as I want. I’ll provide everything for you. You will never drink blood from any other man but me.” The mere thought of her taking sustenance from some other male made him crazy with jealousy. She belonged to him. “It will be too late for you to run. I’ll be right behind you no matter where you go. There is nowhere in this world where you can hide from me.”

  Bowing his head, he sucked in a deep breath and closed his eyes, struggling for some semblance of control. “This is the beast you would tie yourself to.” Shaking his head, he raised it, wanting to drink in her beauty one final time.

  “Not a beast but a man. A man whom I’ve come to love with all my heart. A man who accepted me as I am from the very first. A man who has always put my safety and well-being first and foremost, sacrificing his own safety and comfort, and who taught me what it’s like to feel wanted and needed and cared for.”

  Toeing off her sneakers, Laurel Rose reached down and pulled off her socks. “The sacrifice is well worth the gain.” Unbuttoning her jeans, she wiggled her hips and shoved the stiff fabric down her thighs. When they fell to her ankles, she stepped out of them. Her eyes were soft, shining with emotion. “This is the man whom I would tie myself to.”

  Standing there in only her cotton underwear, she was like some magnificent angel. Stefan could not believe that his heart’s desire could come to him so easily. “Are you sure?” he asked even as the beast within him roared for him to reach out and snatch what was his.

  “Yes.” Holding out her hand, she beckoned him to her.

  “Then God help us both, for I will never let you go.” Taking her small hand in his much larger one, he pulled her toward him.

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Laurel Rose held her breath as Stefan dragged her closer. Even kneeling on the ground before her, this man was no supplicant. Sheer power radiated from him, making the air crackle with energy. She sensed him struggling to control all the forces battling within him and that made her love him even more.

  When she was standing right in front of him, he came up on his knees and buried his face against her stomach. His arms wrapped around her, his grip unbreakable. She threaded her fingers through his long hair and held him close. The night air was cool, but his breath was warm against her skin, his jaw slightly rough as he placed open-mouthed kisses across her belly.

  She laughed when his tongue snaked into her belly button. But that laughter quickly became a moan of pleasure when he caught the thin fabric of her panties between his teeth and began to tug them down. Gripping his shoulders for support, she waited for him to pull them down her thighs. But he paused when they were across her hips and nipped at her hipbone. His teeth scraped gently across bone and flesh, and her bare toes curled into the ground. She’d never known that part of her body could be so sensitive. But every touch, every breath, every light caress set her senses on fire.

  Pushing her underwear lower with his chin, he nuzzled the tuft of hair on her mound and breathed deep. “You smell hot and sweet.” His tongue lapped at the crease at the top of her thigh. “Your panties are damp, aren’t they? You’re swollen and wet and ready for me.”

  Laurel Rose could barely breathe, let alone talk. “Yes,” she gasped and pulled his head closer.

  Stefan laughed and caught the fabric of her panties in his teeth once again. This time, he dragged them over her thighs, and when he released them, they dropped down around her ankles. “Step out.” Sitting back on his haunches, he watched as she freed herself from the last of her clothing.

  She felt very sensual and wanton standing naked in the middle of the forest, wanting him to take her. The trees encircled them, sheltering them from the world beyond.

  “Spread your legs wide and show me just how wet you are.” When she hesitated, he stroked the inside of one of her thighs with his finger, moving it ever so slowly toward her sex. Her hips angled toward him as he slid his finger back toward her knee. “You belong to me now, Laurel Rose. There is no need to hide from me. You’ve done it before. Show me your treasure. Give yourself to me.”