Rene Lyons - Where the damned come to play

Tempting Darkness

by Rene Lyons

Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

***

Jessica dropped to the floor and drew her knees up the moment he let go of her hand. It was what she did when she was afraid. She made herself as small as possible. Sitting beside her, Lucian put an arm around her. She smiled as she scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. He didn’t understand why she trusted him now, and hadn’t in the dungeon. Nor did he take too much time analyzing it. Not when he’d much rather enjoy the feel of her against him.

“What happens if someone comes here and finds us?”

He hugged her even closer. “Let’s not think about that, shall we?”

He’d do whatever was necessary to ensure her safety and his continued existence. Basically, the rules governing Templars were simple. They had to guard the relic, protect Tristan at all costs, and kill only if their existence was threatened. If even one of them deviated from those rules, all of their souls would be sent to Hell. That was something every Templar fought to avoid since the night they’d woken as vampires.

The stab in his stomach and the dryness of his mouth reminded him again that he needed to feed. With the hunger upon him, it would only continue to grow until he fed, making him more dangerous to Jessica as the day wore on. They couldn’t leave Malmesbury until he fed.

Jessica must have sensed his body stiffening in his effort to hold onto his control because she leaned away from him. Her gaze was searching, causing Lucian to shift under the weight of it. “Are you okay?”

She looked too serious by half, which given their situation, he couldn’t blame her for. “I’m fine.”

She cocked a brow at him. “No you’re not.” Her eyes narrowed on him, like she saw through him to the hunger gnawing at him. “You need blood, don’t you?”

Lucian couldn’t deny his shame at his body’s need. “I said I’m fine.”

“You don’t have to lie to me about it. You seem to forget we’ve spent the last three months together.”

Forget? Never would he forget one moment of their captivity.

Raking a hand through his hair, Lucian sensed the rising sun, an added agitation to his already growing unease. He didn’t dare glance around the boxes to see how much of the sun spilled in through the missing windowpane and the cracks between the boards that covered the remaining windows.

Lucian shrugged with false indifference. “You don’t need to be reminded of what I am.”

Jessica raised her brows, regarding him in astonishment. “Do you think I need a reminder?” “No. I’m sure you don’t.”

Lucian pulled back slightly when she shimmied out of his arms. She ran her hands through his hair, the gentle caress a touch upon his heart. “I don’t see you as a monster, Lucian. Not anymore, anyway.”

He found it ironic she’d say that because of his devious thoughts about her. “You should, Jessie. If you knew the things I want to do to you…”

“Stop it. Stop trying to make me afraid of you.” Her hands came to rest on his cheeks. Her touch was warm— gentle—bringing to life tender emotions in him he was only now realizing he possessed. “Haven’t I spent enough time being afraid? Can’t I just enjoy this moment with you?”

Her whispered questions caused an ache in his heart. A low growl rumbled within him as he struggled with himself not to mislead her, but to be as frank and honest with her as he could. “I’m a monster.”

She shook her head and trailed her hands down to his shoulders. Her thin arms settled around his neck. Her face was so close all he had to do was lean forward and he’d be able to capture her lips. He closed his eyes and swallowed a groan when she hugged him. Her breath fanned his cheek and her breasts, small and firm, pressed against his chest. His body reacted instantly to her, hardening and pressing painfully against the fabric of the too- tight pants.

“You had a million opportunities to hurt me and you never did.” Her heartbeat hammered against his chest as her lips touched his cheek in a whisper of a kiss. “A monster wouldn’t have held back or protected me as selflessly as you have.”

Lucian wished he could hold on to this moment for eternity. But as it always did, life—or rather his death— managed to intrude.