Disapproval radiated from him like a furnace. Hannah stifled a grin. She had irritated him, and he grew angrier by the second. Well, good. He deserved it. How far could she push his limits?
“Why would I know anything about her beau?” Corinne’s thin lips formed a pout as her sip of tea ran straight to the carpet.
Laughter threatened to erupt, so Hannah bit the inside of her lip to stifle it. Get ready, bounty hunter. “If I don’t find Duncan soon, Edwin threatened to carry me off to his home and hold me captive until I agree to marry him.” She grinned in triumph. His scowl deepened and black clouds of disapproval scooted across her mind in response. Beat that, Snookums.
You are playing with fire. I hope you are prepared to be burned. I have warned you.
He moved to her side of the sofa, dumping her feet unceremoniously to the ground so he could seat himself. After retrieving his teacup, he took a sip and gazed at their hostess. “Hannah already consented to be my bride. I do not mind she is carrying another man’s child. Indiscretions happen, and I look forward to raising the child as my own.” His sigh echoed with the sadness of the ages. “I only hope she will grow to love me in time.”
“Oh dear.” Corinne patted his hand.
“Oh brother.” Hannah huffed her annoyance.
Edwin assumed a wounded expression. “My only desire to find Duncan is to warn him off any pursuit of her. I want the assurance she is mine alone. No man has a claim to her.”
Hannah sucked in her breath at the deadly calm in his voice. She was the intended target for his hidden message. Goose bumps prickled her skin. Over the top possessiveness isn’t becoming, bounty hunter.
He ignored her. Not even an eyelid fluttered. “You see, I am extremely adept at tracking people down. He is a threat. It pains me to know this man lurks near her. Hannah belongs to me.” He sat back against the crushed mauve velvet and sipped his tea as if he issued veiled threats every day. “You understand my position, don’t you, Corinne?”
The ghost nodded. “Of course.” She looked at Hannah with a trace of envy. “You are extremely fortunate to have such a protective man. It’s not every day men of this generation stand up for their women.”
“I’m a lucky, lucky girl all right.” Edwin’s transformation into a male chauvinist pig was complete. She mourned the loss of her hard work from the week.
This tea party is over. Abandoning the act, Hannah struggled to a seated position. Edwin’s strong hand on her thigh kept her rooted to the sofa. “Can you tell us where Duncan is?”
“I don’t know how useful this will be but I was given this card by the post man two days ago. He told me to pass along this direction to any visitors I had in for tea.” Corinne fumbled with a wooden trinket box on the table at her elbow and withdrew a business card which she handed to Edwin. “I believe it mentions a gentleman by the name of Andre.”
“Thank you, fair lady.”
Hannah released a sigh of relief. At least he wasn’t the vengeful Gothic vampire anymore. The black cloud in her mind retreated. In its place crept an intense violet stain that grew stronger and stronger until it consumed the empty spaces in her mind. Tingles flirted at the base of her spine. She set her teacup down, ignoring the conversation between Edwin and Corinne. What the hell?
Desire swept through her body in waves so powerful her breath caught in her throat. She shot a wild glance at Edwin, but he gave away nothing.
His lips titled upward in a tiny smile as he bent his head to Corinne’s, deep in conversation.
Ripples of urgent need emanated from Hannah’s core to spread throughout her body. The silken waves grew more intense, caused her to clutch at the sofa cushions. He winked, and the golden threads of his laughter interrupted the violet colors in her mind. She swallowed, biting hard on her lip to keep from crying out.
What are you doing to me?
A dark glossy eyebrow lifted, but he didn’t glance at her. I have no idea what you mean.
I doubt… oh… my…
Wave after wave of white-hot need washed over her. She dug her fingers into the plush cushions. Sweat beaded on her forehead. The more she tried to regain control, the worse off she became. Swifter, harder and faster the swells came, until she was a throbbing mass of unfulfilled longing. She glanced at her companions, but they paid her no attention.
Golden laughter bounced through her brain. An almost imperceptible crook of Edwin’s forefinger caught her attention. And that was her last coherent image. Two great throbs of passion rocked her body. Her core convulsed in frantic contractions then she explode into tiny prisms of light. Her eyes drifted closed as her head lolled back against the sofa cushions, spent, and exhausted. She floated on warm, cottony ebbs of the most intense orgasm she’d ever experienced.
What did you do? Pink sparks shot across her consciousness when she attempted to sort out her confusion. Edwin? She opened her eyes and caught his smile.
He stood with graceful movements. “We appreciate your hospitality, Corinne. I thank you for the information you’ve provided. Perhaps one day soon we can get together again.” He glanced in Hannah’s direction. When he cocked his black eyebrow again, golden sparks sprayed through her mind. “I must get Hannah home. She appears to be quite tired by this outing. I cannot imagine why she’s near swooning.”
Stumbling to her feet, Hannah shook her head and hoped for the return of clarity.
The ghost patted her arm. “Stop by soon, dear. I’ll be waiting. Not many people drop by anymore. I never thought death would be so lonely.” Corinne fluttered her white napkin as they stepped through the picture frame and returned to the watchtower.
*****
Edwin’s smug mood lasted a full three seconds.
As soon as the portrait became solid behind them, Hannah flew into a rage. “What did you do to me?”
Even in the face of her obvious anger, he grinned. Her eyes spewed green fire, her cheeks were flushed a dusky rose. She was unequivocally beautiful at that moment, even more so than usual. His heart lurched to know she was his.
“A payback for the acorns.” He leaned nonchalantly against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. No matter how he felt about her, he could not forget her part in the theatrics. “I did not realize what a superb actress you are, Hannah. Lies and falsehoods seem to roll off your tongue like nectar.” He hoped his expression was blank as he set his lips set into a hard line. “Perhaps everything you have told me to this point has also been part of your dishonesty, a deception?”
“What are you talking about?” She blinked. “We were playing a joke on that poor old lady! It wasn’t until the end where you got all weird and possessive. And let me tell you something, mister, I’m not a piece of merchandise to be owned.”
“I never indicated you were.” The muscles in his face ached from the effort of giving a fierce front. “It was my intention to warn you—”
She stalked away then she turned to face him at the far wall of the ranger station and held up a hand. “Damn. I know what happened.” A slow smile curled her lips. “You’re jealous.”
“Of course not.” His scowl deepened. “I have no reason to be jealous, let alone indulge in such a petty emotion.” A muscle in his cheek twitched as he clenched his jaw. “I am in control at all times.”
“You’re jealous because I pretended to be in love with Duncan. May I remind you I’ve never met the man, and who, may I also remind you, I couldn’t possibly love?” Her lips parted with a grin. “You are so jealous.”
Edwin frowned. “I refuse to discuss the issue further.” His shoulder slipped from the wall as he straightened his spine. “It is of no consequence.”
She advanced then paused before him. He swallowed—hard. “I think you realized the thought of me being with another man had the power to send you into a black cloud of depression, or maybe even rage. So why don’t you just admit it out loud?”
“I will admit nothing.” He stuck a finger beneath the collar of his shirt in the effor
t to loosen the suddenly tight clothing though the neck wasn’t buttoned. Her green gaze pierced through to his soul. “I might have experienced a moment of weakness when you wove your story.”
“Really.” A red eyebrow lifted at her doubt.
He frowned, but he could not hold out against the tide of his emotions. “I freely admit it. I was insanely jealous. The thought of you in another man’s arms caused overwhelming anger and fear within me.” He cleared his throat when she continued to stare. “I have never experienced such strong feelings regarding a female before.” As soon as the words left his mouth, he knew they were true. He would patiently search each level of hell for her if need be. He could not lose her. “I am sorry for my behavior. Please forgive me. It would seem I miscalculated my affection for you.”
“Is that all you meant to say? Are you sure there’s nothing else you found out about yourself just now?” I need to hear the words. I need you to tell me the truth.
Heaving an exhausted sigh, Edwin tugged her into his arms. He nestled her close so he could rest his chin on her head. “This evening brought the realization that not only can I not live without you, I… I think I may love you.”
She pulled back, her gaze sweeping his. “Are you being completely honest with me? You know how I feel about you since you read my thoughts.”
“I do know.” He brushed a thumb over her cheek. “I have been through more than my fair share of emotions this week.” He paused, unsure of himself. As she looked at him with hope in her eyes, the last of his reserve crumbled. “I was not searching for love when I found you.”
“What were you searching for?” Her words were little more than a whisper as she undid the buttons of his silk shirt.
He shrugged, determined not to let her see how her simple touch affected him. “I was looking for the woman who could complete the prophecy and defeat Andre. I did not know I would find a woman who could drive me to distraction with just one look.” The deep fuchsia of her joy flooded into his mind, but he fought against the urge to join in her euphoria. “I found the one woman who could bring me to my knees with desire so strong I knew I never lived before, the one woman with whom I could easily share my life.” His pulse quickened as she touched his chest. “It is quite perplexing.”
“I’m sorry to have bewitched you so soundly, but you’re difficult to resist.” She pushed the shirt from his shoulders and leaned in to smell his scent. “God, you’re intoxicating.”
He pressed his lips to her temple. “I tend to have that effect on women.”
“What do we do now? You told me you shun relationships, yet we’ve shared the most fantastic sex. You told me you could never love a woman because you didn’t want her to mourn if you should die, but you just admitted those simple words to me. You’re a walking contradiction.”
He sucked in a surprised breath when she touched one of his nipples with the tip of her tongue. He tightened his fingers on her as affection gripped him with a strangle hold. Life without her was unimaginable. “For now, spatzi, I am going to make love to you. When the sun comes up, I will wake you with slow passionate kisses and repeat the act all over again. Then we will decide what comes next. For now there is only you, and there is only me.”
“But—”
He silenced her with a kiss, felt her shiver as he stripped off her clothes as well as his. Edwin lifted her onto the bed, and then settled himself over her lush curves. “Do you need me to tell you how much I adore you, or are you sufficiently stimulated?”
Her laughter exploded into his mind on a bright wave of orange. “Explain something first. How did you give me an orgasm without touching me?”
As he thrust into her, Hannah’s warmth closed around him as if welcoming him home. As long as he lived, he would never forget the awe he felt when he joined with her. He pressed his lips to her forehead before answering.
“When our minds linked, I was able to touch the deepest recesses of your brain. I could access thoughts and secrets you thought forgotten but our physical joining augments our mental abilities because you are an Enhancer. I only had to think about bringing you to the brink of insanity before I found you reacted to my thoughts.” He kissed her mouth, savored the petal softness of her lips. When she lifted her hips to meet his next thrust, he buried himself deep within her. “Do you know how arousing it is for me to watch as you succumb to your desires, to see you climax?”
The pupils of her eyes swallowed the irises. “I have a good idea.”
He felt her pleasure long before she showed any outward sign of it. When she drifted on the red waves of release, he smiled.
“Ich liebe dich.” Peace settled over him as he lay beside her, his arms around her. He meant every word. Perhaps in the morning, common sense would return, but for now, in this moment, he did not wish anything different.
Hannah kissed his palm. “I love you too.”
Chapter Seventeen
Later that evening, they came upon a fast flowing creek and followed the current until it ended in a waterfall. A natural rock ledge rose ten feet above the ground behind the curtain of water, so they made camp there.
While Edwin went to “secure the area,” Hannah decided to make use of nature’s goodness to get in a shower. The water was teeth-chattering cold, but she didn’t care. Using some of the precious soaps and shampoos she gleaned from Horace’s spa, she lingered in the water, and wished for a razor as well. I’m the poster child for the granola lifestyle.
I do not understand your reasoning. You are not like a cereal or grain.
She shook her head. He would never fully develop a sense of humor as long as he clung to his Old World way of looking at things. Finally, with nothing left to soap or lather, she joined him on the ledge, naked and dripping. As a shiver rocked her body, she stifled a sneeze.
“You will encourage pneumonia or some other disease of the lungs if you persist on wandering about unclothed.” He wrapped the soft white blanket around her with a tired sigh. “As much as I would like to take advantage of your state of undress, I am too exhausted to do much about it.”
Humming a few bars of popular music, Hannah rummaged in her bag for a comb then worked gel into her short locks. “Suit yourself.”
His soft chuckle blended with the chirp of crickets. Leaning his back against the limestone wall, he stared into the curtain of water. “Your choice of music is highly entertaining. You will have to introduce me to your collection.”
“I’m a bit of an eclectic.” Her lips pulled down with a frown. “Are you feeling all right? You look worn out.” She sank down beside him. New lines of exhaustion popped along his eyes and mouth.
“The usual strains of tracking, coupled with our recent sexual encounters, have drained my energy.” His grin faded, and he closed his eyes. “I will no doubt be my usual arrogant, annoying self in no time.”
Curls of warning snaked through her stomach at his words. “Edwin, how long has it been since you last uh, partook of your allotment of blood?” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “I mean, when…?”
He shrugged, the movement sluggish. “I fed shortly before I met you. I will survive.”
Anxiety tightened her chest. She pressed two fingers to his neck, discouraged at his slow, faint pulse. “No wonder you’re weak. You’ve got to feed. It can’t be helped.”
“I have been aware of the need for a couple of days, but I have been distracted with other interests.” His grin didn’t reach his eyes. “I will rest a bit now then go down later to hunt whatever there is to be found.”
It will be too late if you wait. What would happen if he went into a coma and she couldn’t revive him? She swallowed the lump of fear in her throat.
Repulsion held her in its ugly grip, but she shook off the emotion. “Edwin…”
“No, I cannot allow it.”
Damn. “Why not? It’s the only way.”
“You find the idea of my feeding objectionable.” He levered his head against the wall. “I will
not allow you to sacrifice yourself.”
“Of course I find it objectionable! People just don’t walk up to other people and say ‘hey baby, let me suck your blood.’” She licked her lips. “I’ve seen some strange things this last week. Your feeding from me will be icing on the cake.”
His face contorted with a frown. “We do not have cake. You must be delusional.”
“Oh my goodness, jump into this century!” Hannah mentally counted to ten. “You need to do this.” She poked him in the chest with a forefinger. “I refuse your refusal based on principle.” Leaning in, she narrowed her eyes. “Do you have fangs or not? Does being bitten by a vamp feel like a flu shot?”
A veil of shadow passed over his face. “My fangs do not show themselves unless I am under heavy duress. It has been this way since…”
Her mind skittered back to the image she had seen when she’d explored his mind. “Since you killed that woman.”
“Yes.” His sigh was the sound of the martyrs. “I am beginning to think you will be the death of me.”
She stroked his stubble-covered cheek. “Not if I can conceivably help it.” She smiled into his eyes, fear, and curiosity, warring for dominance within her. “I might pester you, drive you crazy, and in general frustrate you, but I would never harm you. Now, give me your knife.”
“No, Hannah.”
“Damn it, give me the knife, you sexy, stubborn, arrogant vamp!”
Edwin’s laugh had a bit of the humor she had come to expect, but he surrendered the knife from its hiding place under his pant leg. “It is a wonder I have existed in the world so long without you to boss me around.”
“Yeah, well, unfortunately you’re stuck with me for a long time to come.”
As she unsheathed the knife, the wickedly sharp blade winked in the faint light of the moon. Her heart fluttered. Giving herself an intentional wound would hurt. I’m not a big fan of pain.
“You are an extraordinary woman. This will not be fun for you. The cut will have to be fairly deep to provide enough blood and allow it to flow freely.” He leaned close and dropped a feather-light kiss on her lips. “An artery would be best.”
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