Stefan's Salvation(24)

for him as well. "Then we can talk." He hadn't forgotten how they'd left things the

night before. She would have many questions that needed answering. Their future was

still undecided, at least in her mind. He knew what he wanted.

"I'll be here."

Stalking toward her, he leaned down and captured her mouth with his. Unlike the

kiss in the bedroom, this was not a gentle meeting of lips, but a claiming. Stefan took

her mouth with a marauding force, thrusting his tongue inside. He tasted and explored,

laying claim to every nook and cranny. When her arms slipped around his waist and

her tongue stroked his, he almost howled with satisfaction. Instead, a pleased growl

rumbled in his throat. She was his.

When he finally pulled away, they were both panting hard. Stefan watched as her

chest rose and fell with every breath. His acute vision allowed him to see her swollen

nipples as they pushed against the soft fabric of her cotton shirt. He longed to place his

lips over one of the hard peaks and suck it into his mouth. The heady scent of her

arousal wrapped around him. She was more than ready for him.

Once again, he had to fight his own base instincts that were screaming at him to

release the snakes, lean her against the railing and take her from behind while the night

wrapped around them. Later, he promised himself.

Placing one last hard kiss against her swollen lips, he disappeared into the

darkness. Speeding through the dark woods, he headed straight for the white church on

the edge of town. It was Sunday evening and he knew just where to find Jeremiah

Stoner.



Chapter Sixteen



Stefan could hear the final strains of a hymn being sung as he stopped on the road

in front of the church. With its white clapboard and stained glassed windows, it looked

harmless enough, even welcoming. But looks could be deceiving and Stefan could sense

the evil lurking in the depths of the building. Whatever went on there, not all of it was

of God's choosing.

He knew that many people would be shocked to learn that a vampire believed in a

higher power, but he did. And so did his brothers. What people called that higher

power was irrelevant. The fact of the matter was that his kind had lived long enough

and seen enough of the world and the various creatures that inhabited it to believe that

a power greater than them all did, in fact, exist. Call it higher consciousness. Call it God.

It did not matter. It just was.

A deep voice echoed from the inside of the building. Seemed like Pastor Stoner was

about to give his sermon. Stefan planned to give him something to talk about. Striding

up the stone path to the church, he focused all his energy on the heavy wooden doors in

front of him. As he bounded up the steps, the doors burst open, slamming inward as he

stalked through them.

He heard the gasps of the people seated in the pews as every eye in the place turned

to see what was causing the commotion. Stefan looked neither right nor left, ignoring all

the people watching him with various degrees of trepidation and fear. All his attention

was fixed on the man frowning at him from the pulpit.

Jeremiah Stoner surprised him. His blond good looks were more suited to a movie

star than a preacher. Jeremiah resembled an angel of God while Stefan, dressed in his

black jeans and shirt with his long dark hair flowing behind him, looked more like

Lucifer himself. The man didn't flinch as Stefan walked down the aisle toward him. The

whispers began before he was halfway there. He caught the words "snake" and "devil",

the last almost making him smile. They had no idea just how close to the truth they

were.

It was obvious that Jeremiah Stoner was trying to keep an expression of

benevolence and calm on his face, but underlying it all was a seething anger. Well, the

good pastor's anger was nothing compared to his.

"You have dared to barge into a house of God with violent intentions in your eyes,

friend." The accusation rang in Jeremiah's voice.

Stefan inclined his head, acknowledging the mocking form of address. He stopped

in front of the pulpit and cocked an amused brow at the pastor. "I don't think God will

mind me returning your property to you." He paused before adding, "Friend." The

snakes hissed, weaving their heads back and forth as he held up his arms.

He studied Jeremiah's face carefully. The other man was good at blocking his

thoughts. It was rare, but there were humans who were so adept at doing so that Stefan

could not break through. He could get a sense of the man's emotions but little else.

"What makes you think that they belong here?" The pastor's condescending tone

fired Stefan's anger again. He didn't know for sure who left the snakes at Laurel Rose's

house, but he could send them a warning.

He studied the preacher carefully. The man hadn't admitted or denied that the

snakes belonged to the church. Very clever. It wouldn't do to underestimate this man.

He also sensed the man knew something about the snakes. There had been a split

second of recognition. It was enough for him. Stoner either owned the venomous

creatures himself or knew who did. "I figured if anyone knew who they belonged to, it

would be you." Stefan kept his tone mild, but Jeremiah's reaction was immediate. The

man's face turned so red, Stefan began to wonder if he would have a heart attack right

there in the pulpit.

The pastor opened his mouth to speak, but Stefan had had enough. He wanted to

finish this and return to Laurel Rose. Turning his back on the man, Stefan addressed the

congregation. "Someone broke into Laurel Rose's home and left these behind." He

allowed his cold, green-eyed gaze to flow over the crowd. Many people clutched at the

crosses that hung around their necks, and it was obvious that almost everyone was

praying.

He smiled at the crowd, but he felt no humor. He allowed the fury to show in his

eyes, promising swift retribution to those who would harm his woman. "Laurel Rose is

mine." He paused to allow his words to sink in. "I will protect what is mine."

Leaving the threat hanging in the air, he turned back to the pastor. Everyone in the

church sucked in a breath as he confronted Jeremiah. The two men stared at one

another and Stefan could sense Jeremiah's attempt to control his mind. With the speed

of a snake, Stefan struck back psychically, sending the other man physically reeling.

The preacher stumbled backward a few steps before righting himself. For the first

time the man's eyes showed fear as he stared at Stefan in horror. It was a bitch to realize

you weren't the biggest and baddest wolf in the woods. Jeremiah Stoner's few talents

were no match for Stefan's powers.

Stepping up on the slightly raised dais, he stalked toward the preacher. Jeremiah

stood his ground as, one by one, Stefan deposited the deadly snakes around the pastor's

neck. Leaning forward, he whispered so only the other man could hear him. "Don't

make me have to come back here again, friend. There are worse bites than that of a

snake."

Jeremiah remained totally still as the snakes settled around his shoulders, but he

didn't flinch. There was no doubt in Stefan's mind that this man was more than used to

handling the reptiles.

Whirling around, Stefan stalked back down the church aisle, out through the open

door and was swallowed up by the night. The hum of voices behind him grew in

strength as everyone started to talk at once. But Stefan had already forgotten them. His

mind was totally fixed on Laurel Rose as he sped back toward her, back toward home.



Laurel Rose curled up in the bench swing that sat in the garden under the shelter of

a large oak tree. The creak of the wood as she rocked was comforting and she clutched

the quilt tighter around her. She'd already done her crying. Her eyes were blotchy and

her nose sore. But she was all right, thanks to Stefan. She didn't know what she would

have happened if he hadn't come.

Closing her eyes, she pushed her foot against the ground and started the swing

rocking again. The sounds of the night comforted her. She didn't want to admit to

herself that she was slightly nervous about being in the house alone now. The incident

with the snakes had spooked her worse than she'd thought. Just how far were some

people willing to go to get her off her land? She shivered and tugged the quilt closer,

glad for its meager comfort. It seemed inconceivable to her that someone would kill her

just to get control of a few acres of land. Okay, a lot of acres of land. But after tonight,

she had to face that fact.

Stefan had swooped down on her home like some dark, avenging angel, ready to

protect her at all costs. Not since the death of her grandpa had anyone ever wanted to

protect her. Vampire he might be, but Laurel Rose had never met a finer man in her life.

He might ignore the rules of humankind, but he had a code that he lived by. She trusted

him with her life and knew he would never lie to her.

Laurel Rose had been alone for so many years that she was soaking up the care and

the attention that Stefan offered her in the same way a plant sucked up water after a

drought. Even if it didn't last, she would take whatever time they had and enjoy it to

the fullest. The man couldn't seem to get enough of her sexually, and surprisingly

enough, she felt the same way in return. She only had to think of him or picture his

beloved face in her mind and a pulsing began low in her belly, her nipples tightening

and her whole body yearning to join with his.

Placing her hand on her belly, she tried to smother the ache that was growing there,