THE KISS OF IMMORTALITY
Maggie could feel how weak she was; she knew she was dying. "I don't want
to die."
"Look at me," Simon commanded. "What is your decision?"
I want to be with him, Maggie thought suddenly. Nothing eke matters. She
managed to lift up her hand, and caress his face softly.
Simon put his arms around her, then kissed her fiercely. The sickness faded
beneath the passion Maggie felt. I never wanted anything as much as I want him,
she thought hazily.
"You're beautiful," he whispered. He ran his hands lightly across her body,
fingertips barely touching her. Maggie moaned, aching with desire.
"Tell me who I am," he ordered while thrusting into her.
"My master."
"And you'll be mine forever?"
"Forever."
Simon sank his teeth deep within the wounds on her neck again. Maggie
moaned, digging her nails into his back. The rapture she now felt made her prior
ecstasy pale in comparison. She felt wave after wave of intense, unbearable
pleasure as he drained the blood from her. Maggie felt him growing harder within
her as he drank her blood. It seemed to go on forever, making love while he drank
her blood. She didn't want it to ever stop…
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CRIMSON KISS
TRISHA BAKER
PINNACLE BOOKS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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PINNACLE BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Copyright © 2001 by Trisha Baker
Printed in the United States of America
PROLOGUE
^ »
March 17, 1998
Unobserved, Meghann O'Neill entered the dark hospital room after the relatives
holding vigil over the dying old woman departed. She felt her throat close with pity
when she stared at her oldest friend, who was moaning and writhing in agony on
the narrow hospital bed. Bridie Fraser was beyond the reach of the drugs her
doctors had prescribed; they could do nothing to ease her pain.
But I can help, Meghann thought, and reached out to take Bridie's skeletal,
clammy hand. Meghann closed her eyes and focused all her energy on the old
woman's mind, as her mentor had taught her to do. "Be still, Bridie. The pain is
gone."
Meghann felt the tension in the hand she grasped ease as a numb lassitude not
unlike the effect of Novocain banished her friend's pain. Bridie leaned back against
her pillows, whispering, "Who… Who are you?"
Meghann waved her free hand and the harsh fluorescent overhead lights came
on, illuminating the small room.
Bridie Fraser gasped; her watery blue eyes were wide with shock. "Maggie!"
Meghann smiled down at her best friend. "Hello, Bridie."
"B-but…" the old woman stuttered. "It's not… you can't… Maggie, you
haven't changed at all! Are you a dream?"
"I'm real," Meghann assured her. There was a reason she hadn't aged in the
fifty-four years since she'd last seen Bridie, but she couldn't share the truth with
her old friend.
Bridie Fraser smiled, and Meghann saw her pretty young friend for a moment
in the eyes of the old woman. "Maggie… Maggie, you've finally come back.
You… You're an angel now, come to take me home."
Meghann gave her a crooked smile. "Not exactly an angel, Bridie. But if you
are ready to die, I can help you."
"Oh, Maggie," Bridie whispered. "I missed you so much. Why did you
disappear like that? Was it that man? Did you really run away to marry him?"
Meghann's hand tightened over Bridie's until the old woman cried out in pain.
"Oh, Bridie—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you… now or then. Will you
forgive me?"
"Just tell me you were happy, Maggie."
Meghann blinked rapidly, holding back tears. "Of course I was happy. Were