A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 63



"Nothing to be afraid of," she repeated dully.

He tightened his grip on her arm, bringing her to a stop. "Close your eyes."
Mesmerized by his voice and the look in his eyes, she did as she was told.

Taking the bag from her arm, he placed it on the ground,then drew her into his arms, his embrace gentle. Humans were so veryfragile, one had to be careful not to crush them, not to bruise them.

He drew a deep breath, breathing in her scent, letting it flow through him.An appetizer, so to speak. With his preternatural sense of smell, he caught every nuance—the lavender soap she had washed with, peppermint toothpaste, a slight hint of starch in her clothes mingled with a faint odor of cologne from the man she had been with earlier.

His fangs lengthened in response to her nearness, the pounding of her heart, the whisper of blood moving through her veins. Gently, he brushed her hair away from her neck.

And then he drank.

It was a pleasure like no other.

Warmth suffused him, spreading through him like liquid sunshine, filling him with strength and power.

Even after all these centuries, the urge to take it all was strong but he was no longer a slave to his hunger, no longer helpless to resist the beast within. He took only what he needed, what he required to survive.

Five minutes later, the woman was back on the street with no memory of what had happened. With preternatural speed, Dominic returned to Nightingale House.

The boy was standing on the front porch, a box of candy in one hand, the other raised to knock on the door, when Dominic arrived.

Slowing, Dominic walked up the driveway toward him. The boy—Bryan—turned at his approach. "I don't think she's home."
"Did you have an appointment?"

"No."Bryan shook his head. "I was just hoping to see her." His eyes widened. "Damn, did you two have a date for tonight?"

"Not exactly."

"Well, I've been knocking for five minutes,"Bryan said. "If she's here, she's not answering the door. Maybe she just doesn't want to see me."

Dominic closed hiseyes, let his preternatural senses explore the house. A fine anger rose within him when he opened his eyes to find the boy still there. "Go home. She is not here."

"Oh. Well." The boy cleared his throat. "I guess I'll go then. If you see her, tell her I'll call her tomorrow."