Having made love twice, she wondered if there was something wrong with her, that she wanted him again so quickly. Would he think her a wanton if...
The thought had no sooner crossed her mind than he was carrying her back into the bedroom, sitting on the bed, pulling her down on top of him.
So many ways to make love, she thought. How glad she was that she had waited for Andrei to teach her.
Later, locked in his arms, his breath cool against her cheek, she grew increasingly aware of time passing. In a few hours, the sun would rise and she would . . . what? Lose consciousness? Fall asleep? Andrei had never told her what it was like to succumb to the darkness.
“Andrei?”
“Yes, love?”
“What will happen to me when the sun comes up? Is it like falling asleep?” she asked hopefully.
“Not exactly.” It had been terrifying for him, the first time. The sudden lethargy, the sense of falling into nothingness. There were no dreams, no sense of time passing, no sense of anything until the sun went down and he awoke abruptly.
“Tell me.”
“I won’t lie to you. It was scary the first time. One minute you’re awake and the next you’re waking up with no memory of what happened in between. It doesn’t hurt. There are no dreams, good or bad . . .” He paused. That was no longer true for him. Since tasting Tessa’s blood, his existence had changed. He dreamed while at rest. He was able to partake of mortal food from time to time.
Seeing the pensive expression on his face, she asked, “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Maybe it will be different for you.”
“Why?”
“Your blood is different from most mortals. Or it was. I’m not sure if that’s true now that you’re no longer human. But I’ve had dreams, something I hadn’t experienced for more than seven hundred years until I tasted your blood.”
“You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”
“The whole time, if you want me to.”
“At least the first time.” She worried her lower lip. “You’re sure I’ll wake up again?”
Andrei laughed softly as he gathered her into his arms. “I’m sure, love.”
* * *
He lay beside her, her head pillowed on his shoulder, as the sun came up and she slipped into the sleep inherent to their kind. She had always been lovely, but now, her beauty subtly enhanced by the Dark Gift, she was truly the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
Even though he could be active during the day, it was natural for him to take his rest when the sun was up. Holding Tessa close, he let himself slip into the familiar darkness.
* * *
Yawning, Tessa rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. There was no clock in the lair to tell her the time, no windows through which to judge the hour, yet she knew it was midafternoon. And that she should be trapped in the dark sleep.
Why wasn’t she?
She glanced at Andrei, lying beside her. And smiled. She loved him, she thought, her fingertips tracing his lower lip. Loved him with every fiber of her being.
“As I love you.” Capturing her hand, he kissed her palm, then drew her down beside him. “I had a feeling the dark sleep wouldn’t be able to hold you.”
“Did you?”
He grunted softly. “Your blood has enhanced my powers, as mine have enhanced yours. We are both the stronger for it.”
She smiled, vastly relieved that she wouldn’t have to be unconscious during the daylight hours.
“You won’t be able to go sunbathing, or stay out in the hot sun for long periods of time,” he warned, “and you may have to wear dark glasses for a while.”
“I don’t care!” She kissed him soundly. “I was dreading having to sleep all day and now I don’t have to!”
Andrei rose over her. “As long as you’re awake . . .” he said, flashing a wicked grin.
“What did you have in mind? As if I didn’t know.”
He kissed her cheek, then nipped her earlobe. “Any objections?”
She started to say no, then stared up at him. “Wait! You’re not going to bite me, are you?”
“I thought I might, why?”
“Why? Because I’ll die from the bite of my sire, that’s why!”
Andrei threw back his head and laughed. “Is that what you think? That I waited all this time just to turn you on Friday and do away with you two days later?” Lowering his head, he kissed her. “There are bites,” he said, lightly raking his fangs along the side of her neck, “and then there are bites.”
“If I taste you now, will it be as amazing as it was before you turned me?”
“Better, my love. From now on, everything only gets better.”