A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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was beating wildly when she felt his fangs at her throat.

She could not believe she was doing this. Never, in any other life, had she permitted him to take her blood. Floating on a sensual sea, she wondered what was different now. Why was she letting him do this when she never had before?

Her skin grew warm and she closed her eyes, surrendering to the pleasure that flooded through her. No wonder Dracula had been able to seduce so many women. How could anyone resist his Dark Kiss? She was boneless, weightless, floating in a sea of molten crimson, sinking blissfully deeper and deeper into velvet darkness…

With a wordless cry, Dominic jerked his head back, his gaze moving anxiously overTracy 's face. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and he swore under his breath. By the fates, had he taken too much?

He whispered her name, his heart pounding with fear. He should have stopped long ago, but her life's blood tasted like the sweetest nectar, her life-force so potent, he could feel his wounds healing, feel his strength returning. Each time he had been about to draw away, he promised himself that he would take only a little more… and a little more...

He stared down at her, hating himself for his weakness. He knew she would hate him if he had to bring her across. But he could not let her die. Not this time. Not when she had accepted him for who and what he was, not when she was so close to accepting the Dark Gift that he had offered and she had rejected so many times in the past.

"Tracy!"

She stirred in his arms. Her eyelids fluttered open. For an endless moment, she stared up at him without recognition.

" Querida?"He shook her gently, frightened by the blank look in her eyes. "Speak to me."
She blinked at him.Took a deep breath.And then smiled. "Dominic." Her voice, though weak, was the most welcome sound he had ever heard.

With a glad cry, he gathered her into his arms and held her close, felt tears sting his eyes as he stroked her back, her hair. Weeping softly, he offered a prayer of thanksgiving even though he had lost the right to pray long ago.

"Dominic? Why are you crying?"

"I feared I had taken too much. I thought I had lost you again." He drew back, his gaze searching her face. "How do you feel?"

"Sleepy." She frowned as she lifted one hand to stroke his cheek. "The burns… they're almost gone. How is that possible?"

He covered her hand with his and held it to his cheek. "Because of you," he said."Because of your sweetness, your generosity."

And he had very nearly killed her because of it.