Embrace the Night

Page 49



They danced together as if they had done so a thousand times before. The sound of his voice wrapped around her, adding to the magic of the night. She looked into his eyes and saw a tiny flame that grew and grew until she felt the heat of it envelop her.

And then he was kissing her, his lips warm, gentle, hungry. The heat of his hands seared her skin. The beat of his heart thundered in her ears. And she was drowning in sensation, smothering in a blanket of desire.

She kissed him back, shivering with delight, with fear. His tongue stroked her lower lip, and fingers of flame exploded within her. She pressed against him, yearning to be closer. His chest was hard and solid. She felt his arms tighten around her waist. His breath was warm against her face, labored, rasping.

"Gabriel…" Her voice sounded heavy, drugged.

" Cara…"

It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to put her away from him. The scent of her, the softness of her, stirred his desire, not only for her sweet body, but for the vital essence of her life. The hunger raged through him, urging him to take her, here, now, to satisfy the awful thirst only her blood could quench.

He heard her gasp and knew that the blood hunger was visible in his eyes.

With an oath, he turned away. He stared into the fire, and the flames exploded upward with a mighty roar.

"Gabriel!"

"Go to bed, Sara Jayne." But…

"Go to bed, Sara!"

She didn't argue this time. Jumping into the bed, she pulled the covers up to her chin, her gaze focused on Gabriel's back. He was breathing heavily, his hands clenched at his sides.

"Good night, Sara," he said, his voice gruff.

"Good night."

He took a deep breath, and then, without looking back, he left the room.

She stared after him, confused by what had happened, by the unholy light that had burned in the depths of his eyes. But surely she had imagined that. A trick of the flames, perhaps. Yes, that was it.

With a sigh, she snuggled deeper into the covers, then wiggled her toes.

She could walk! Tomorrow she would explore the abbey. She would go outside and run barefoot through the grass. She would write the good sisters and tell them she was well, that she was more than