A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 82



"Are you all right?"

"Oh, yes," she murmured."Better than all right."
His gaze moved over her face, his expression worried.

She tried to smile reassuringly, but it required too much effort. She was suddenly tired, so tired… "Tracy!"

He scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the house. Placing her on the sofa, he went into the kitchen and filled a glass with orange juice, which he insisted she drink.

It revived her immediately and she blinked up at him, confused. "What happened?" His eyes filled with remorse. "Forgive me, my best belovedone, I am afraid one taste was not enough."
Her eyes widened. "Will I become a vampire now?"

He grinned indulgently as he gathered her into his arms. "Did you learn nothing from all those books you read? One does not become a vampire by giving blood, only by drinking from one who is already vampire."

"So, I'd have to…"

"Yes, you would have to drink my blood.An exchange, as it were . I would take your blood, a great deal of it, and then give it back to you."

She shuddered. "It sounds… gruesome. Don't you ever miss eating real food?"

He grunted softly. "After so many years, I hardly remember what it was like, except…" He kissed her again, his tongue sliding over her lips."Except when I kiss you. You had ham and cheese and tomatoes for dinner." He closed his eyes. "And bread. And tea sweetened with honey." He opened his eyes again, his gaze moving to her lips. "The flavors linger ever so sweetly on your tongue."

His knuckles caressed her cheek, lightly stroking up and down, up and down. It made her feel like purring.

She was lost in his nearness, drowning in the depths of his eyes. "Sleep now," he said. "The rest will do you good."

She wanted to tell him she wasn't that tired, but her eyelids were heavy, so heavy. Sleep wrapped her in a warm blanket of darkness.

Dominic's voice was the last thing she heard before she surrendered to the darkness.

"I love you," he said, his voice soft and low, yet brimming with emotion. "I have loved you for centuries. Can you not love me just a little?"

Chapter 13