“I sell them from my home to a select clientele.”
“Oh.” She was curious to know where he lived, but couldn’t summon the nerve to ask.
Swallowing the last of his wine, Andrei stood. “I should be going.”
“So soon? It’s still early.”
“It’s for the best.” He placed the goblet on the end table. “If I stay any longer, I’m going to take you in my arms and make love to you until the sun comes up.”
Tessa blinked at him. Men had desired her before, but none had ever expressed it quite so candidly. Or tempted her quite so much.
Brushing a kiss across her brow, he murmured, “Good night, dragostea mea.”
Before she could decide if she should ask him to stay, he was gone.
* * *
Andrei. His face rose in Tessa’s mind as soon as she woke in the morning. In the shower, she heard his voice softly threatening to make love to her until the sun came up.
While she dressed for church, she couldn’t help wishing she had asked him to stay the night—a wish that no doubt required some sort of repentance on her part. After all, didn’t the Bible say lusting after a woman—or a man, in this case—was the same thing as doing the deed? And if a thought was as bad as the action . . . well, she was already damned.
But how could she help but want him? Andrei was beyond gorgeous, beyond sexy, beyond description. She had never met a man like him. Doubted if there was another man like him anywhere in the world. A woman would have to be three years dead not to be attracted to him. And this morning, she felt very much alive.
She ate a quick breakfast, stepped into her favorite heels, grabbed her handbag, and ran out the door.
She managed to stay within the speed limit—mostly—and made it to church with a minute to spare.
“I didn’t think you were coming,” Jileen whispered, scooting over to make room for Tessa.
“Why would you think that?”
“I texted you yesterday and you never answered. I figured you were . . .” At a reproving look from the minister, Jileen fell silent. Until the choir began to sing, and then she whispered, “You were supposed to call me this morning with all the details.”
“I’m sorry. I turned my phone off when we went to the movies and I guess I forgot to turn it on again.”
“And?”
“And nothing. Now hush!”
During the next hour, it was all Tessa could do to keep from laughing at her friend, who looked like she was about to burst with curiosity.
As soon as the service was over, Jileen grabbed Tessa by the hand and hurried her outside. “All right. Tell me everything! You went to the movies and . . . ?”
“And he followed me home and killed a couple of vampires.”
Jileen blinked at her in openmouthed astonishment. “What is it with you and vampires?”
“I don’t know, but it’s getting kind of creepy, you know?”
“Dinescu is like your own personal Superman.”
“You should have seen him. He was like . . . like . . . I don’t know how to describe it. It was horrific and bloody, but he was amazing. He’s a hunter, you know.”
“He is? I thought he sold antiques.”
Tessa shrugged. “He does. He said hunting’s an avocation.” She bit down on the inside corner of her lip, wondering if she should tell Jileen the rest.
“I know that look,” Jileen said. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“He said he wanted to make love to me.”
“Just like that? I mean, you’ve only known him a few days.”
“Look who’s talking, Miss Falls in Love on the First Date.”
“We’re talking about you, not me.”
“Last night, he said if he stayed any longer he was going to take me in his arms and make love to me until the sun came up.”
“That’s so romantic! How was it?”
“Jilly, I just met the man a week ago, remember?”
Jileen sighed dramatically. “I wish Luke said things like that. He’s a great guy, but he doesn’t have a romantic thought in that handsome head of his. Isn’t it odd, that we’re both dating vampire hunters?” Glancing at her watch, she said, “Listen, I’ve got to go. My folks are expecting me for lunch. Do you wanna come? I know my mom would love to see you.”
“Not this time,” Tessa said, giving her friend a hug. “I’ll see you for lunch at work tomorrow.”
Jileen lifted one brow. “Are you going out with him again?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything about another date. Say hi to your mom and dad for me.”
At home, Tessa kicked off her heels, then changed into a pair of sweats. In the kitchen, she made a tuna salad sandwich and opened a can of soda. Moving into the living room, she plopped down on the sofa.