"It's a concern. Given the questionable condition of your health, I'm not sure your heart could take it."
"I survived the last kiss."
"That was nothing! A real passionate kiss would have to be on the mouth."
"Are you sure? That definition seems a bit narrow." He planted a palm on the other side of her head, trapping her between his arms. Slowly, he looked her over. "I can think of some other areas I would love to kiss with passion."
Her face turned pink. "Well, I should be going now. I was worried about you being dead and all, but you certainly seem to be-"
"Up?" He leaned toward her. "I certainly am."
She turned, fumbling for the doorknob. "I'll let you finish dressing."
"I am sorry, Shanna. I didn't mean to frighten or hurt you."
She looked at him. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Oh, Roman, you silly man. I thought I had lost you."
Silly? In his total of five hundred and forty-four years, he'd never been called that. "I'll always be here."
She jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Surprised by the sudden force of her attack, Roman stumbled back a step. The room reeled for a few seconds. He widened his stance to keep from tipping over. Maybe it was hunger that was causing this dizziness. Maybe it was the shock of receiving affection. After all, he was a monster. When was the last time anyone had wanted to hug him?
He closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of her shampoo, her soap, her arteries pumping with blood. Hunger pounded inside him. He kissed the top of her head and then her smooth brow. Blood pulsed at her temples, drawing him there. He kissed her, breathing in the rich aroma. She tilted her face up to look at him, but afraid that his eyes would be glowing, he dove for her neck. He nibbled up to her ear, then nipped at the earlobe.
She moaned, sliding her hands into his hair. "I was afraid I'd never get to kiss you."
"I've wanted to since I first met you." He brushed his lips across her jaw, headed toward her mouth.
Their lips met briefly, then separated. Her breath was warm against his face. Her eyes were closed.
Good. He could stop worrying about his own eyes.
He brought his hands up to cradle her face. She looked so innocent and trusting. God's blood, she had no idea what he was capable of. He only hoped he was capable of resisting. Gently, he kissed her. She tightened her grip on his head, pulling him closer. He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and flicked it with the tip of his tongue. Her body shuddered. Her mouth opened, begging for him.
He invaded. Explored. She matched each move, stroking his tongue with her own. She was so alive, so hot that all his senses burned. He could see her clinging to him, growing more feverish. He could hear her blood pounding. Feel her nerves quivering, the heat simmering. Smell her juices flowing.
That left only taste.
He wrapped his arms around her. With one hand against her back, he flattened her chest against his.
She was breathing quickly, her breasts moving against his skin. His other hand slid down, down and around her rump. God's blood, she was heaven. Firm and round. And she hadn't been kidding about her ability to show passion.
She pressed against his erection. Good God, she was rocking against him. Squirming. Reveling in the glory of being alive and her overriding instinct to create more life.
So sad. His overriding instinct was to destroy life.
He went for her neck. The left fang sprang forth. The right one started to, but jammed against the wire splint. Ouch! He pulled away, clamping his lips together. It hurt like hell, but at least the pain had knocked some sense into him.
He couldn't bite Shanna. God's blood, he had sworn never to bite a mortal again. He released her and backed away.
"What's wrong?" she sounded breathless.
He slapped a hand over his mouth. He couldn't even answer her with one of his fangs extended.
"Oh my gosh. Is it the splint? Or your tooth? Did we knock it loose?" She rushed toward him. "Let me see."
He shook his head. His eyes watered from the strain of trying to retract the fangs while he was still so hungry.
"You look like you're in pain." She touched his shoulder. "Please, let me see."
"Mmm." He shook his head, retreating another step. Damn, this was embarrassing. But he probably deserved it, as close as he had come to biting her.
"I shouldn't have kissed you with the splint in your mouth." She grimaced. "Jeez, I shouldn't have kissed you at all."
The left fang finally obeyed and slid back into its hole. He spoke with his hand in front of his mouth. "I'm all right."
"But I broke a very important rule-never, ever date a client. I shouldn't be involved with you at all."
He lowered his hand. "In that case, you're fired."
"You can't fire me. You still have my splint in your mouth." She moved close to him. "Now open your mouth and let me see."
He did as he was told.
She nudged the splint with her fingers. He tickled her fingers with his tongue.
"Stop that." She jerked her hand from his mouth. "I can't believe this. The splint's loose."
"Well, you're one hell of a kisser."
She blushed. "I don't see how I managed to … Don't worry. I won't kiss you again. As your dentist, I'm responsible first and foremost for your dental health-"
"I fired you."
"You can't. Not as long as the splint-"
"I'll rip the thing out myself."
"Don't you dare!"
"I'm not losing you, Shanna."
"You won't lose me. We'll only have to wait a week or so."
"I'm not waiting." He'd waited more than five hundred years to experience something like this. He wasn't waiting another damned week. And he wasn't taking any more chances with his questionable amount of control. He strode toward his bedroom. Black dots swirled around his head. He ignored them, ignored the hunger raging inside him.
"Roman!" She ran after him. "You can't take out the splint."
"I'm not." He yanked open a dresser drawer and dug beneath a pile of underwear. There, on the bottom, was a pouch of red felt. He pulled it out. Even through the felt, he could feel the warmth of the silver inside. Without the felt, his hand would now be covered with burning welts.
He held it out to her. She didn't notice since she was pivoting in a circle, checking out his bedroom.
Her gaze lingered on his king-sized bed.
"Shanna?"
She looked at him, then noticed the pouch in his hand.
"I want you to have this." He swayed on his feet. He had to eat soon, one way or another.
"I can't accept more presents."
"Take it!"
She winced. "You should work on your bedside manner."
He leaned on the dresser. "I want you to wear it around your neck. It will protect you."
"Sounds a little superstitious." She took the pouch, loosened the drawstring, and let the contents fall into her hand.
It looked much the same as it had in 1479 when he'd first taken vows. The silver chain was plain but good quality. The crucifix displayed medieval craftsmanship at its best.
"Wow. This is beautiful." Shanna examined it closely. "It looks really old."
"Put it on. It will protect you."
"Protect me from what?"
"I hope you never find out." He eyed the crucifix sadly. He had been so proud when Father
Constantine placed it around his neck. Pride. That had been his downfall.
"Help me put it on?" Shanna turned halfway, gathering her hair into a ponytail. She offered the necklace to him.
He stumbled back before the silver could burn him. "I cannot. If you will excuse me, I need to go to work. I have a lot to do tonight."
She eyed him warily. "Fine." She released the ponytail, and her brown hair settled onto her shoulders. "Are you sorry you kissed me?"
"No, not at all." He grabbed the edge of the dresser for support. 'The crucifix. Put it on."
She continued to study him.
"Please."
Her eyes widened. "I didn't think that word was in your vocabulary."
"I reserve it for emergencies."
She smiled. "In that case … " She looped the crucifix around her neck and flipped her hair over the chain. The cross rested on her breasts like a shield of armor.
"Thank you." He gathered up his strength and escorted her to the door.
"I'll see you again?"
"Yes. Later tonight. When I get back from Romatech." He closed and locked the door. Then he stumbled into the office, grabbed the bottle from the microwave, and chugged it down cold. God's blood, his life had been turned upside down by Shanna. He couldn't wait to kiss her again. He was a demon getting a taste of heaven.
Hell was definitely freezing over.
CHAPTER 12
On the way down the stairs, Shanna's thoughts centered on Roman. Thank God he was alive! The question now was should she stay under his protection or make other arrangements with Bob Mendoza? It was very tempting to stay with Roman. She'd never felt so attracted to a man. Or so intrigued.
She sauntered into the kitchen and found Connor at the sink, rinsing out bottles and setting them in the dishwasher.