Page 31 of Midnight Enchantment

“Am I?”

“In ways you cannot imagine.” His hands slid up and down her bare arms, sending shivers of delight up and down her spine.

Feeling suddenly weak, she leaned into him.

“Where do we go from here?” he asked, his gaze searching hers.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

She was so young, he thought. So damn young. He had no business involving her in his life. He was about to tell her so when she went up on her tiptoes, her hands cupping his cheeks as she pressed her body against his and kissed him.

What started as the mere brush of her lips over his soon turned into something far more intimate, far more passionate. Her feminine scent awakened his desire, the whisper of her blood enflamed his hunger and roused the demon.

With a groan, he wrapped his arms around her in a vice-like grip.

Lily surrendered to the desire blazing between them, only gradually realizing that his kisses had grown more urgent, his arms like iron bars around her. She stilled when his tongue laved her neck, knew a moment of stone-cold terror when she felt his fangs graze her throat.

With a cry, she twisted out of his arms and bolted across the room.

Raedan clenched his hands at his sides, his whole body rigid. “Forgive me,” he hissed between clenched teeth.

“It’s … it’s all right,” she said, her voice shaky. “I … I understand.”

“Do you?”

“I come from a family of vampires, remember? I know all about hunger and thirst and the need to feed.”

His brows rushed together in a frown. “Why do you not run screaming from my presence?”

“Well, you let me go, and since you don’t seem to be out of control now … ” She shrugged. “I’m sorry. I think maybe I over-reacted.”

Raedan stared at her as if he had never seen her before. She was the most amazing, surprising woman he had ever known. “I should go,” he said, hearing Ava’s footsteps on the stairs.

“Will you come back later?”

“If you want me to.”

“You know I do.”

He planted a quick kiss on her cheek and disappeared through the window, closing it behind him, just as her bedroom door opened.

Ava glanced around the room. “Are you all right, Lily?”

She shrugged. “I’m sorry I got mad at you, Granny. I know you’re just worried about me.”

“I made some hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Lily said, smiling, and sailed out the door.

Ava stared after her, wondering at Lily’s sudden change of heart. She glanced around the room again. Then, feeling certain she had missed something, she followed Lily downstairs.

Chapter Fourteen

In the course of the following week, Ava regarded Lily’s changed attitude with mingled confusion and suspicion. At worst, she had expected her great-granddaughter to be rebellious or angry. At best, she had prepared herself for a week or two of the sullen, silent treatment. Instead, the two of them had spent their time in her workshop, with Lily eager to learn new spells and enchantments, charms and potions. She had cheerfully agreed to go out to dinner and to the movies. They had taken long walks together, gone shopping for shoes and handbags, made a trip to the hair dresser.

But it was Lily’s obvious happiness that worried Ava the most. As far as she knew, Lily hadn’t been able to sneak out of the house for any midnight meetings with Raedan, yet she had the unmistakable glow of a woman in love. It was most perplexing and worrisome.

Hoping to find some clarity, Ava called Dominic after Lily had gone to bed that night.

---