Page 2 of The Doctor and the Devil
“I haven’t had one before, and I’d like to see what all the fuss is about,” I said. It was an awkward, unladylike answer, but it was honest. I expected him to laugh at me again, as he always did, but he didn’t.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
I sucked in a breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
His lovely lips turned up at the corners in a genuine smile, and he finally pressed those lips to mine.
It was…odd. It was warm, gentle yet firm, and a little wet, but not in an unpleasant way, and it was over in half a second. I pulled away from him with what I was sure was an unflattering expression, because his brows pinched together in consternation.
“Is that…all?” I asked. I couldn’t help it—it just seemed so underwhelming given how everyone spoke of kissing as a riotously pleasurable activity.
He raised one of those devilish black brows at me as if I’d challenged him to another game of chess.
“Spare not my feelings, little Mina.” He laughed again. “I’d hate for you to end your birthday on such a disappointing note.”
He leaned forward once more and—oh.Oh.
Oh.
His soft lips sought mine again, and this time he sucked gently at my bottom lip. When I opened my mouth in surprise, his tongue slipped in, slowly caressing mine in the most pleasurable way. Not wanting to waste the opportunity for a lesson, I attempted to mimic some of his movements, licking and sucking in a determined manner, unsure of whether I was performing adequately.
When his hands came up to the back of my neck and threaded through my hair, a deep growl rose from his chest. I pulled away, perplexed.Was he angry that I was doing it badly?We both stared at each other for a heartbeat, eyes wide in shock. He opened his mouth to say something, then seemed to think better of it and snapped it shut. He stood abruptly and bowed stiffly.
“I hope you had an enjoyable birthday, Wilhelmina,” he said in a clipped manner.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked, concerned by his sudden change in demeanor. “I am sorry, only…you know I have not tried this before. I apologize for any ineptitude on my part.”
Some of his tension abated because that false, teasing devil was back.
“Think nothing of it, little Mina,” he grinned, showing off his fangs. “We were all beginners at one time. I can scarcely recall that time myself, but you understand that was long ago.”
His response made me churlish, and I frowned at him, hoping to hide the hurt in my expression.
“Thank you for your indulgence,” I replied. “It was most instructive.”
I picked up the remains of my cake and my book and left the library. When I cast a glance back at him, he was scowling and pouring a hefty glass of something from the crystal decanter on the sideboard. It appeared he was about to enjoy a fine old sulk.
Yes, Ididfind men perplexing and annoying.
1
MINA
April 13, 1768
Van Helsing’s Clinic, Rue Ordener
The devil does not age.
The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning as I stared into the onyx eyes I longed to forget but would always remember. I’d just finished locking up my clinic for the evening, intent on getting a much-needed bite of supper and a moment’s respite from work, but had tripped over my skirts. I braced myself for the pain the fall would undoubtably bring, but it didn’t come. Strong arms righted me, capturing my body in a painfully familiar embrace that afforded me flashes of something much worse than the sting of a scraped palm. With that, two decades of scar tissue ripped open the wounds on my long-broken heart.
“Good evening, Mina.”
The words were deep and low, soft and guttural—an elegant growl wrapped in velvet. My heart pounded against my ribs, a mixture of panicked fear and dusty memories of aching pleasure. He looked exactly the same—of course he would. Still beautiful, still magnetic, still powerful, still untouched by time itself.
“Rafael!” His name was a furious whisper on my lips. I felt the blood drain from my face. I recognized the signs of shock accumulating in my body, and I forced myself to inhale slow, deep breaths.
“Mina,” he repeated.Lord, how many nights had I dreamed of that hypnotic voice murmuring my name?Even though it had been twenty years, I still couldn’t comprehend the way it stirred my soul.
