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Dimitri Alexios lives alone in his San Francisco mansion, if one could call loathing what he is and hating his maker living. Until he beholds the mortal woman who appears on his doorstep. Her gentleness brings light to his darkness, and her innocence calls to him. Yet she knows nothing of his world, or the dangerous predator that constantly rages within him.
Museum curator Cassie Stephens, sent to catalog antiques at the Alexios estate, is surprised to discover Dimitri is anything but the old man she expected. He’s handsome and darkly mysterious, not the sort who’s usually attracted to her girl-next-door looks. Yet she’s ensnared by his irresistible charm—which makes it all the more crushing when he suddenly pushes her away.
Read about ETERNAL EMBRACE
He turned on the stereo, selected a CD and placed it in the player, but didn’t turn on the music. Instead, he came back to her, slipping a small remote into his vest pocket. “Do you know any of the dances from the period in which you are dressed, Cassandra?”
“I’m afraid not.”
His gaze was intense, burning into hers. “Will you allow me to teach you?”
Her response was a breathless whisper, as his arm circled her waist pulling her to him. “Yes.” He was solid and large, pressing intimately against her soft curves before he quickly spun her away, positioning himself for the dance.
“Stand like so.” He showed her, one arm raised above his head, the other feigned holding a skirt. “Not all dances are simple waltzes. Some were performed in groups, others were of couples playing each move off one another. The anticipation of the touch was sometimes the most exciting of all.” His gaze held hers.
She imitated him, grabbing her skirt loosely in her free hand.
“Now, step to the right, then in toward me. As you do so, bring your raised hand down along the side of my face, barely touching my cheek. I will do the same to you.”
He continued to talk her through the steps, counting as they practiced, sometimes humming out a low tune that was pleasant as they went through the motions. He was a patient teacher and praised all her efforts. When she had mastered the steps, he looked at her, a half smile on his handsome face.
“Are you ready?” She nodded and he removed the remote from his pocket, hit a button then returned it to his vest. Motioning to her they both took their starting positions. The music that came was of mandolins, violins, flutes and drums, all playing a sensual tune.
She moved toward him, bringing her hand down, fingertips gently grazing his cheek, while his cool fingers caressed her face. His touch seared her skin. She lifted her gaze dreamily to meet his.
His eyes were intense, his black stare devouring her as he stepped around, bringing her into his embrace, gliding with her around the floor. His hand swept down her arm and caught her hand, then moved away. Both their hands were high above their heads, their fingers linked as they swayed in and away from each other.
Fingers lingering, Cassie and Dimitri both turned and met face-to-face. Their breaths joined as their lips came mere inches apart. He brought their hands down between them, his gaze never leaving hers.
The music grew louder, the drums pounding an erotic rhythm. As the dance went on, Dimitri and Cassie’s steps became quicker, and though his touches were slight, the flow of his fingers stoked desire, making her burn. Breasts aching, a slick need pulsed between her legs.
His hands glided down her side, barely brushing her breasts. Her nipples tightened almost painfully. She moaned.
~ * ~
Unable to stand the torture any longer, Dimitri seized her in his arms. Ignoring the music that continued to play, he pulled her against him, his fingers trailing down the column of her neck. Her breaths were deep and heavy, causing her breasts to heave against his chest. He had to fight the sudden urge to groan.
His hand moved into her hair, releasing it from its clasp. The chestnut tresses cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Little blue flowers fell as he ran his fingers through her silken strands. Catching a flower on a shiny lock, he brought it to his nose before moving his mouth toward her throat. She arched her head back, whimpering as his tongue burned down the slender curve of her neck.
Her heart beat a wild rhythm in his head, matching the tempo of the drum pounding through the ballroom. His lips found the pulse beating at the base of her throat and the pleasing scent of her blood called to him, throbbing through her veins. He knew it would taste as delightful as its aroma. His fangs descended as they grazed her ivory flesh. His shaft was hard as granite; he painfully needed release. It has been so long since he’d felt a woman beneath him, the sensation of velvet heat as he drove into her. Cassandra tantalized him to the edge of his self-control. He wanted to take her in every way possible.
She moaned again, her fingers fisting his hair. She pushed herself against him, begging with wordless sounds to continue his sweet torment. He couldn’t resist any longer. He brought her to the floor, her skirts billowing around them. “I need you, Cassandra,” he breathed, shielding his incisors.
She answered by arching her hips against his. “Take me. I want you desperately.”
He shoved her sleeves and bodice down her shoulders to her elbows, sucking in a sharp breath at the sight of her breasts. Lily white with pink tips and unbelievably perfect. He groaned and captured an erect nipple in his mouth.
Her soft cries fueled him; he needed to feel more of her, to taste her all over.
Dimitri brought his free hand down her leg, and slowly inched up her skirt, his fingers sliding over the silk of her hose until they brushed a lacy top. He grunted, pulling away to look at the top of a thigh-high stocking.
If it were possible, his manhood strained even harder against his pants. He stroked his hand up her thigh; his finger prodded the lace of her panties. Cassandra shifted her head, exposing her throat. He lowered himself over her and caressed her throat with his lips and tongue. Below, he slipped his fingers around silk and met pure satin flesh. She writhed beneath him as he teased and caressed, pushing fingers deep into her heat. She was tight and hot; he knew she’d feel glorious around him when he was finally inside her.
The sensation of her, the scent of her arousal was too much. His lips settled over her pulse, licking, nipping until he sank his teeth into her tender flesh. Her slight body jerked in his embrace, he heard her slight whimper, and her surrendering sigh of pleasure as he slowly drank of her. She tasted delicious, beyond anything he had ever experienced in life and in death. She was sweeter than honey, more intoxicating than the finest wine. He lost himself in her essence, taking in all of her memories, dreams, hurts, fears…everything that she was.
~ * ~
Cassie ran her hands through his hair, urging him on. His fingers felt wonderful as he moved them within her, gliding in and out, his thumb massaging the swollen flesh. She cried out as his mouth covered her breast one more time, suckling, nipping, then lavishing her throat with his wet kisses. She groaned and twitched at the sudden flash of white heat at her neck. Everything seemed to fall away and all she could focus on was ecstasy.
She clung to him, weeping as he brought her to orgasm. She tried to pull away, but he held her tight. She might go mad at the pure delight ripping through her body until she became dizzy. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus. Everything was fuzzy around her.
Something was wrong. She tried to say his name, but couldn’t form words. She tried to shove him away, but her limbs felt heavy. Cassie found she wanted to let the lethargy carry her away into his welcoming embrace.
Blackness closed in around her, starting at the edges of her vision and closing in, so all she could see was darkness.
~ * ~
A fear he had never felt before clutched Dimitri’s heart. He pulled away. Her head rolled listlessly to the side and her eyes were closed. He shook her gently. “Cassandra, open your eyes.” He brought his arms from around her, grasping her shoulders. “God, please forgive me. What have I done?”
She slowly blinked her eyes open, looking up at him, confusion lurking in her gaze.
“I don’t feel well,” she whispered, closing her eyes once more.
He cursed himself for a fiend. Tearing his shirt open, he cut a small gash at his chest, lifting her against him. “Cassandra, you must drink.” She tried to push him away. “Cassandra, I command you to drink.” His voice was stern, and she obeyed, her delicate lips touching against his chest, drinking his accursed blood.
When he was sure she had had enough, he pulled her away, closed his shirt, gathered her small body and held her, rocking her still form in his arms. How could I have done this to her? The only light in his dark existence and he had almost extinguished it. He had to send her away, but he was weak where she was concerned.
He rose from the floor and carried her from the ballroom to one of the guest bedrooms down the hall. The door opened with a mere thought and he walked across the room to the canopied bed and tenderly laid her on it.
Cassie blinked and touched her head; it was clear that she ached and felt dizzy. Her eyes tried to focus on Dimitri. “What happened?”
He shifted her slightly to the side and loosened the buttons that went down the back of her gown. “You are not feeling well, probably from some spiked punch you drank this evening. You will stay the night here.”
“The punch wasn’t spiked,” she said, puzzled.
He came down on his knees in front of her, his fingers touching the column of her throat, and his gaze caught hers. “Sometimes it is difficult to tell when someone has spiked the punch.”
She touched her head again. “I guess you’re right.”
He helped her out of the dress and sucked in his breath at the renewed sight of her strapless black bra, matching black panties that rode low on her hips and black thigh-highs with a lacy pattern. She was so lovely; his manhood strained harder against his pants.
Dimitri forced himself to look away as he removed her shoes and pulled down the bedcovers. He laid her on the sheets, yanking the covers up to her chin. He kissed her forehead.
Her fingers glided over his parted lips. “Thank you for tonight,” she whispered. “I have never felt this way about anybody.” She paused, searching his dark gaze. “Dimitri…I think I’m falling in love with you.”
Then she slept.
Dimitri couldn’t have been more surprised than if she had struck him. He already knew he had fallen for her.
He walked out into the hall, quietly shutting the bedroom door. He rested his forehead against it, the sound of her heart pulsing in his head.
“I’m sorry, Cassandra.”