“You may go.”
He was gone before she finished speaking.
Brow furrowed, Katerina resumed her pacing. She had not been to America in decades. Perhaps it was time to visit again.
She smiled faintly, wondering if Andrei still made his home there.
Andrei. She had known many men, loved a few, used others only to cast them aside when they ceased to amuse her.
But Andrei Dinescu was the only man she had ever married.
Katerina chuckled softly. According to the vows they had exchanged, he was still her husband.
“To have and to hold,” she murmured, thinking how surprised he would be to see her after such a long time. “Until death do us part.”
Chapter Ten
Andrei prowled the dark streets, his thoughts as black as the night. He had found a woman like no other, a woman who made him feel alive again. Young again. And she wanted nothing to do with him. Not that he could blame her. Being a vampire, he had little to offer her. Certainly nothing she wanted. Or needed.
But he couldn’t get Tessa out of his mind. It had been a week since he had last seen her—the longest week of his life.
Almost before he realized what he was doing, he was in front of her apartment building. Was she home?
He opened his senses, searching for her, felt a surge of relief when he had assured himself that she was safely inside.
A thought took him to the landing in front of her door. The strong, steady beat of her heart called to him, as did the warm, sweet scent of her blood. The fragrance of her hair, her skin. The memory of holding her in his arms. The alluring heat of her kisses.
“Tessa.” Her name whispered past his lips. He wanted her, wanted her as he had never wanted another woman. Even more compelling was his soul-deep need for her, a longing unlike any he had ever known.
Few things had surprised him since becoming a vampire, but he was totally astonished when the apartment door opened and Tessa stood there.
“Andrei.”
“How did you know I was here?”
“I’m not sure.” It wasn’t quite the truth. She had felt his presence, and how weird was that? And yet there was no denying it. She’d been sitting on the sofa, trying to read the latest book by her favorite author, when something had told her he was there. “What are you doing here?”
He shook his head. “I was out walking and the next thing I knew, I was here. I’ve missed you, Tessa. You have no idea how much.”
“I’ve missed you, too,” she said, her throat clogged with emotion. “I tried not to. I told myself it would never work, but . . .” She looked up at him, her gaze drinking him in, her whole being yearning toward him.
“Tess.”
The longing in his voice reached deep inside her, drawing her across the threshold and into his embrace. For a moment, she simply stood there, her cheek pressed against his chest, her arms around his waist. This was what home felt like, she thought. Warm, secure, and so right.
He held her tight, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head. He had no idea what he had done to deserve her trust, had been certain he would never hold her close again.
After a moment, Tessa lifted her head. “Maybe we should go inside.” She tugged lightly on his hand and he followed her into the house, obligingly shut the door.
Tessa took a deep breath. Being alone in the house with Andrei suddenly made her feel as if someone had sucked all the air out of the room. She had missed him, but now that he was here, he seemed larger than life. His presence filled the room.
He was a vampire—incredibly old, incredibly strong and powerful. And yet, in the deepest parts of her heart and soul, she knew he would never hurt her.
The question now, she thought, was where did they go from here?
Andrei stroked her cheek with his fingertips, his touch featherlight, yet she felt it in every nerve and fiber of her body. “I guess that’s up to you.”
She reminded herself once again that he could read her mind. Why did she keep forgetting that?
Moving to the sofa, she motioned for him to join her. “I don’t want to rush into anything, if you know what I mean.”
“Hmm. I’m guessing that means you don’t want to be intimate until we know each other better.”
Cheeks flushing, Tessa nodded. “I’ve never had a casual affair and I don’t intend to start now.” The truth was, she’d never had an affair of any kind.
“That’s very wise of you,” he said, amusement evident in his tone.
“You’re making fun of me.”
“No, never. Just tell me what the rules are.”
“There aren’t any ‘rules’ exactly. Just certain boundaries I’m not willing to cross just yet.”
Andrei nodded. “If I start to cross a line, just tell me to stop.”