“No pressure. Just putting it out there. Think about it when you’re ready.”
“Thanks. But I should think about it. You know I’m no good making spontaneous decisions.” I smiled knowingly.
“I’ve been finding out about your impulsive actions the hard way,” he said, leaning his forehead against mine. “It’s one of your most charming—and infuriating—traits.”
“You know what they say,” I said. “Love me—love all of me.”
“I do love you, Maya. All of you.” He ran a hand down my side, settling into a protective hold on my lower back. “Every last inch of you.”
“I love you too, Tristan.” I kissed him softly.
“Forget about it right now. Listen. The DJ is starting up with your favorite band.”
I strained my ears to hear the opening beat of Type O Negative’s Set Me on Fire and perked up right away.
“Ooh! You must have requested it!”
“One of the perks of being the boss around here,” he said. “That and having the most beautiful, crazy, spontaneous, exasperating, kindhearted, spirited, brave, loving woman walk into my club. And into my life.”
I couldn’t do anything but smile. Life had been a whirlwind of emotions the past few months, but I wouldn’t change anything. It was all worth it.
“Come on, let’s dance,” he said, and took my hand to lead me onto the dance floor. I turned back and caught Nike’s eye and she nodded with a knowing look in her eyes. Michel was whispering something into her ear. Probably whatever it was sounded extra seductive in his French accent. And knowing what a sucker she was for it, her insides had probably melted into jelly on listening to him.
Only a few people were up there right now so we had a wide open space. Tristan pulled me close and whispered into my ear, “You set me on fire.”
I wrapped my arms around him as we swayed to the dark rhythm of the song. It felt so good to be back in his arms. Not dancing with wild abandon to forget a broken heart. Not dancing with some random guy. But to be here wrapped in Tristan’s protective embrace. I rested my head on his chest and sighed softly. How could he evoke feelings of protection, warmth, pure love and a rising desire in me all at once?
“My body is ablaze just thinking of being with you again,” I whispered back.
“Don’t say things like that or I won’t be able to make it to the end of the song without feeling you up out here in front of everyone.”
I closed my eyes. To have someone you wanted want you so badly in return was intoxicating. I didn’t know if I’d make it through the song without wrapping my legs around his waist.
Even through my want, thoughts ran through my head, thoughts about us. Yes, he’d hurt me and I’d hurt him. But all that was behind us right now. We’d learned from our mistakes and maybe that made us stronger going ahead. The future was wide open. Open with possibilities.
You’ve practically been living with him since you met him. You’ve spent so many nights with him—and days. It’s natural to move on to this next step.
I leaned back to look up at him and saw my own increasing lust reflected in his dark eyes. All the uncertainty about moving forward with him disappeared. How did he have this effect on me?
“I want you so bad right now, Tristan.”
He pulled me closer and I felt his erection press against me.
“The feeling is clearly mutual.” He pulled away and whispered, “But we’ll have to wait until later. Your friend is here tonight. We should spend time with them before we run off to bang like bunnies.”
I looked over Tristan’s shoulder to the bar. Michel was nuzzling Nike’s neck now and her eyes were half-closed.
I laughed. “I don’t think we’ll have to wait too long.”
Tristan looked over at them. “Guess the next question is who’s going to run out of here the quickest.” He pulled me closer to him and I rested my head on his chest again.
As the song wound down, I pulled back. “Tristan, I’ve made a decision. I don’t need time to think about what I know is right. Yes, I would love to move in with you.”
He made some whooping sound and lifted me off the ground. “I do love your impulsive decisions.”
“But, I have one condition,” I said.
“What is it?” He looked at me with wary eyes.
“Only if we bring the blue scarf home with us.”
Tristan laughed. A laugh that used to be so rare with his brooding nature, but one that came out more and more these days. Then he pulled me closer so our lips were only inches apart.
“Our home. I love it,” he said. “You’re on. But I have one condition of my own.”
“What’s that?”I asked, breathless. Just as eager to hear the answer as I was to feel those lips on mine.
“I’m tying you up first.”
I looked into the deep, dark eyes of the man I loved, thinking of the possibilities that lay ahead. Then I whispered, “How about tonight?”
About Lisa Carlisle
Lisa has loved vampire stories since she was in third grade, when she had a crush on Dracula. She has traveled around the world while in the Marine Corps or backpacking on her own and she draws from her experiences in her writing. Lisa is a multi-published, award-winning author. She now lives in the Boston area with her husband and two children and enjoys writing in local cafes.
Lisa welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Lisa Carlisle
Smoldering Nights
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Fiery Nights
ISBN 9781419942556
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Fiery Nights Copyright © 2012 Lisa Carlisle
Edited by Raelene Gorlinsky
Cover design by Syneca
Photos: Jaroslaw Grudinski/Fotolia.com and Conrado/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication December 2012
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