After Sundown

by Amanda Ashley

  "Cara, mi amante… mi vita …"

  She loved the sound of his voice, the way it moved over her like rich black velvet, warm and soft and sensual. She looked at him, and love swelled her heart until it ached. How could she endure a year without him?

  She slid her hands under his sweatshirt, ran her fingertips over his belly, his back, reveling in the hard-muscled strength of him. Removing the sweatshirt, she tossed it on a chair, then began to unzip his jeans.

  "Careful there," he muttered.

  She laughed softly as she eased his jeans down over his hips. He wasn't wearing anything underneath.

  "My, my," she murmured.

  "I dressed in a hurry."

  "Your boots," she said with a grin.

  He sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled off his boots and socks. With a sultry grin, Marisa pulled off his jeans, then straddled his hips. "I'm going to miss you so much."

  "I know." He fell back on the bed, drawing her with him. "I know."

  "Will you call me while you're away?"

  He shook his head, his hands moving lightly over her back, his thumbs skimming her breasts. "I have promised her I will not, but I will know if you need me." He nuzzled her neck, his tongue hot against her skin. "Marisa?"

  She brushed her hair away from her neck and closed her eyes, yielding to the need in his eyes. Once, the thought of anyone drinking her blood had been repulsive, but no more. It was strangely erotic to know that her blood sustained him, bound them together. There was no pain. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around him and held him closer, tighter, urging him to take as much as he needed. There was no need for words between them. She knew what he was thinking, what he was feeling. His tongue laved her neck, sealing the wounds.

  As he rolled over, tucking her body gently beneath his, she put everything from her mind and gave herself over to the magic, the love, that was Grigori. There would be time for tears tomorrow, but tonight there was only Grigori, filling her, completing her.

  Loving her, until dawn stole the darkness from the sky, and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

  It was dusk when she woke. She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to wake up. She didn't want to face the coming evening, or tell Grigori good-bye. A year. Not long ago, she had complained that time went by too fast, but she knew that would not be true now. The days would drag, and the nights would be unbearable.

  She snuggled closer to Grigori, frowned as she felt the tension flowing through him. "Grigori, what's the… ?"

  She opened her eyes, drew the sheet up to her chin, when she saw Khira standing in the doorway. Dressed in ice blue silk that matched the color of her eyes, her long silver-blond hair falling over her shoulders like a mantle, the vampire looked as cool and beautiful as always. There was a faintly amused look in her eyes.

  "It's time," Khira said.

  "Khira, get the hell out of here," Grigori said brusquely.

  She glanced at Marisa, then fastened her gaze on Grigori. "Don't make me wait too long," she warned, and left the room.

  Grigori looked at Marisa. "My ride is here."

  She nodded, unable to speak, knowing that if she tried, she would burst into tears.

  His gaze caressed her face as he brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. "I can wipe my memory from your mind if it will make it easier."

  "No!"

  "I know this will not be easy for you, but try and make the best of it. Spend time with your family. Call your friend Linda Hauf. You have neglected her since we got married. And try not to worry. Everything will be all right."

  She nodded and forced a smile. He didn't want to leave her. She wouldn't make it more difficult by crying or making a scene.

  He kissed her, then slid out of bed and began to dress.

  Such a beautiful man, she thought as she watched him. Lithe, supple, perfectly formed. He moved with a fluid grace no mortal could ever hope to achieve. And he was handsome, so very handsome. No wonder Khira wanted him…

  The thought of Grigori with Khira was like a knife piercing her heart. She had often wondered how anyone could commit murder, but she understood now. Jealousy and impotent rage flooded her heart, and she wished suddenly that Khira were just a woman, one she could fight on equal terms.

  "Marisa, don't."

  She met his gaze, knew her thoughts had betrayed her,

  "I can't help it."

  He pulled on his boots, then sat on the edge of the bed and drew her into his arms. "I love you. Only you. Remember that."

  "I know."

  "I shall miss you, cara mia. I will think of you every night, dream of you every day." His hands slid over her shoulders and down her arms. His gaze burned into hers, his mind brushing hers, and she felt his love wash over her like a warm, sweet tide, seeping into the very deepest part of her, touching every nerve, every cell, every particle of her being. It filled her heart with peace, eased the ache in her soul, overflowed in a cascade of silent tears.

  His arms tightened around her. "Ah, cara, please don't cry. I cannot abide your tears."

  She buried her face in the hollow of his shoulder. "I'm not," she said, sniffing.

  He rained kisses on her hair, her cheeks, her neck, the tip of her nose, the hollow of her throat. "I have to go," he murmured, his voice filled with regret. "She is calling me." He cupped Marisa's face in his hands. "I love you. Never forget that."

  "I won't."

  He kissed her again, slow and long and deep, and then he was gone.

  Chapter 31

  Kelly rolled onto her stomach and braced her chin on her hand. "It's not right, you know?"

  Ramsey frowned at her. "What are you talking about? What's not right?"

  "What Khira's doing to Grigori and Marisa. What gives her the right to do such a thing?"

  "She thinks she has the power to do it."

  "Well, we ought to stop her. You heard Grigori. What if she decides she wants you next? I mean, Grigori and Marisa are married…"

  "We are going to stop her. Don't worry about that." He frowned at her. "Your concern—is it really for Chiavari and Marisa? Or about you and me?"

  She scooted toward him, her teeth grazing his shoulder. "Both."

  He put his arm around her and drew her up close to his side. Her sweet, feminine curves fit against the lines of his body as though she had been designed for him. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

  She made a low growling sound and punched him on the arm. "I'm trying to get you to ask me something."

  Ramsey lifted one brow. "Is that right?"

  "You said we'd be together forever."

  He nodded.

  "Well, I know times have changed, and people live together all the time without getting married, but I…"

  "Hush, Kelly."

  She stilled and looked away, but not before he saw the hurt in her eyes.

  Ramsey took her chin in his hand and gently forced her to look at him. "Will you marry me, Kelly?"

  "No."

  "No! Why not?"

  "Because you don't really want to."

  "Kelly girl, when I ask a woman to spend forever with me, I mean it."

  "You do?"

  "I said it, didn't I? I cannot imagine what I ever did without you in my life. I love you, Kelly girl."

  "Oh, and I love you!" she said, and launched herself on top of him, smothering him with kisses, caressing and nibbling until he was on fire for her.

  Fire. Desire and hunger burned within him. He felt her teeth at his throat, felt a sensual rush as her fangs pricked his flesh. His hands moved over her, lightly stroking, until his need was too great. Rolling over, he tucked her beneath him. She shivered with pleasure as his tongue laved her neck, moaned softly as she yielded to the vampire kiss, bucked beneath him as his body melded with hers. He saw her through a pulsing red haze, his every sense attuned to the woman in his arms, the touch of her, the taste of her, the scent of her— ah, the warm sweet scent of her blood; the musky scent of her heated flesh;
the pleasurable pain of her nails raking his back, her teeth nipping his shoulder…

  "Forever," he said, and carried them both over the edge.

  Kelly let out a slow, deep sigh. She had never known love like this in her whole life. Never. Rolling onto her side, she caressed Edward's cheek. "Eddie? We have to do something to help Marisa."

  "Like what?"

  "I don't know. Think of something. You used to be a vampire hunter. How would you have hunted Khira back then?"

  "In the daytime, when she was weak." He grunted softly. "Hell, we don't even know if she is weak in the daytime. No one knows exactly how powerful she is."

  "But there's three of us," Kelly argued. "Four, if you count Lisa. And only one of Khira. You told Grigori…"

  Yes, that combined we might do it. In the back of his mind, he heard Grigori's voice: "There is powerful blood in your veins, Ramsey. Mine. Alexi's. And Khira's. She will find it difficult to destroy you if you keep your wits about you."

  There had been no mistaking the surprise and, yes, unease Khira had felt when he resisted her.

  Together, he and Grigori had destroyed Kristov.

  Khira had killed Noah Fox and Prince Dracul and Madame Rosa, and who knew how many other vampires, let alone innocent humans. She was like a plague, a one-woman virus, spreading through the city, preying on the weak.

  "One way or another," Ramsey said, "we will find a way."

  "So, do you have any ideas?" she asked, her eyes glowing with excitement.

  "Not a one," he admitted, nuzzling her neck. "But we will think of something. But first, what do you say we get married?"

  The wedding was surprisingly easy to plan. They didn't need a church, Ramsey had no family, and Kelly's mother was in England. Ramsey found a minister who would perform the ceremony outside, in a local park, the following Saturday night.

  Kelly wrote out an invitation to Marisa, and then one for Grigori. "It's not right that Grigori can't come with Marisa," she said.

  "Chiavari is holding up his part of the bargain by keeping Khira occupied," Ramsey said. "First things first."

  "Is there anyone you want to invite?"

  Ramsey thought briefly of Duncan, then shook his head. Inviting a vampire hunter to a vampire wedding was just asking for trouble.

  "You know, it's a good thing the all-night market on the corner sells stamps," she said with a grin, "or I'd have to ask Marisa to go to the post office for me."

  Ramsey shook his head. "It seems silly to send out two invitations when a couple of phone calls would do just as well. Besides, Khira probably won't let Grigori come anyway."

  "Well, she'd better!" Rising, she put the invitations in her handbag, stepped into her sandals. "Come on, let's go get some stamps. Oh! What about a license? The offices close before dark."

  "I'll take care of it"

  "How?"

  He winked at her. "Don't worry about it."

  "All right." She slipped her arm through his. "Let's go."

  They wandered through the market, reminiscing about the taste of food. Kelly stopped in the candy aisle.

  "Look at all that chocolate," she said with a sigh. "It's the only thing I really miss. Well, that and ice cream. And hot fudge."

  Ramsey laughed. "A real chocoholic, weren't you?"

  She stuck her tongue out at him. "Me and a million other women. Besides, don't you know? Dark chocolate is good for you."

  "Sure, it is."

  "It is! I heard a doctor say it was good for the enamel on your teeth, and good for your heart, too."

  He laughed out loud this time. "Your teeth are fine, honey, trust me."

  She laughed, too, causing an elderly couple to stop and stare at them.

  Grinning, Kelly took Edward's hand. "Come on, let's go get those stamps."

  They were heading for the check-out stand when Ramsey came to an abrupt halt.

  "What is it?"

  "Duncan."

  "Where?"

  "There." He nodded at a tall man who was reaching for a bag of potato chips.

  "Maybe he won't see us."

  Ramsey tugged on Kelly's hand, urging her backward, but it was too late.

  "Hey, Ramsey!" Duncan called.

  "Hi, Tom."

  Duncan pushed his cart toward them. He gestured at the groceries inside. "Heck of a way for a single man to spend a Saturday night, ain't it?"

  Ramsey laughed. "You need to get yourself a wife."

  Duncan nodded, his gaze moving over Kelly.

  "You two haven't met, have you?" Ramsey said. "Tom, this is my fiancee, Kelly Anderson. Kelly, this is Tom Duncan."

  Duncan held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Kelly."

  "Nice to meet you, too," she said, smiling. "I've heard a lot about you."

  "Good things, I hope. I'm about done here," Duncan said. "Maybe I could meet the two of you for a cup of coffee somewhere when you get done with your shopping."

  "We just came in for some stamps," Ramsey said. "We thought maybe we'd catch a late movie."

  Duncan grunted softly. "Which one?"

  "Whatever is playing when we get there."

  "Mind if I join you?"

  Ramsey glanced at Kelly. "No, we don't mind, do we?"

  "No." She forced a smile.

  "Good. You going to the theater just down the street?"

  Ramsey nodded.

  "Just let me pay for this stuff," Duncan said.

  They followed him to the check stand, bought a book of stamps, waited while Duncan put his groceries in the trunk of his car. Ramsey didn't miss the fact that Duncan had all the tools of the trade in place: a long, sharp knife, a strong silver chain, a hammer and a mallet, a shovel, a small case that he knew held a silver cross and several vials of holy water.

  "Good thing I didn't buy any perishables," Duncan said, closing the trunk. "Shall we go?"

  As luck would have it, they got there just as a new movie started. Duncan bought three tickets, insisted it was his treat for horning in, and they entered the theater.

  "Eddie, what are we going to do?" Kelly whispered.

  "Watch the movie," he said, squeezing her hand. "And stop worrying."

  It was good advice, he mused, wishing he could take it himself. He was all too conscious of the man sitting next to him, of the great gulf between them. For the next two hours, he debated the wisdom of telling Duncan the truth and enlisting his help in defeating Khira.

  He grinned into the darkness. Unbelievable, that he would be looking for a way to rescue Chiavari when a few months ago he had been determined to kill him. Times changed, he mused ruefully, and so did people. Boy, how they changed!

  Duncan nudged him with his elbow. "I'm going out for popcorn. You want some?"

  "No, thanks."

  "What about Kelly? She want anything?"

  "No. We had a big dinner before we left."

  With a nod, Duncan headed for the snack bar.

  "Do you think he suspects?" Kelly whispered.

  "I don't know."

  "Would he really kill you if he knew? I mean, he'd be the perfect one to dispose of Khira, don't you think?"

  "It crossed my mind, but he would be just as likely to take out every vampire in the city."

  Kelly shivered. "I wouldn't like that."

  They fell silent as Duncan returned carrying a bag of popcorn and a large soft drink.

  "Sure you don't want any?" he asked, taking his seat.

  "No, thanks."

  Lost in thought, Ramsey paid little attention to the rest of the movie.

  Later, walking out of the theater, Duncan asked Ramsey what he was doing the following Saturday night.

  Ramsey looked at Kelly and smiled. "I have a heavy date, why?"

  "Still hoping we can get together." Duncan looked at Kelly. "And go hunting."

  "I told you, I will not hunt Chiavari."

  "There are other vamps in the city. One old, one young."

  "Khira," Ramsey said, his voice almost a whisper.


  Duncan nodded. "I know you said you needed some time off, but I don't think I want to try and take her alone. And who knows how long she'll stick around? We need to take her out now, you know?"

  "I can't argue with that."

  "Well, I've got my equipment in the car. When do we start?"

  Ramsey swore under his breath. How long could he keep sidestepping Duncan's invitation?

  Kelly slipped her arm around Ramsey's waist. "You'll have to wait a little while," she said, smiling sweetly. "We're getting married on Saturday."

  Duncan's eyes widened. "Married!"

  Ramsey nodded.

  "Well, I'll be damned! I don't know what to say… congratulations, I guess. Married! Hunters never get married."

  "Yeah, well, I'm thinking of looking for a new line of work," Ramsey said. "Kelly worries about me."

  She gave him a squeeze. "It's time he put away the old wooden stake and found something a little less dangerous to do."

  Duncan glanced from Ramsey to Kelly and back again, then let out a deep breath. "Well, I'm happy for you both," he said, "but I hate to lose Ramsey. He's the best hunter we've ever had."

  "Thanks, Tom."

  "So, do I get an invite to the wedding?"

  Ramsey knew a moment of panic. He was scrambling for an excuse when Kelly said, "We're eloping, just the two of us. It's always been a dream of mine, and Eddie was kind enough to let me have my way."

  Duncan winked at Ramsey. "Always good to let the little woman have her way before the wedding."

  Ramsey smiled. "That's what I thought."

  "Well, let me know when you get back in town, and we'll go out and celebrate."

  "I'll do that."

  With a last, speculative look at the two of them, Duncan turned and walked down the street toward his car.

  Ramsey kissed Kelly on the cheek. "That was quick thinking."

  "He suspects something, doesn't he?"

  "Yeah, I'm afraid so."

  Chapter 32

  Grigori paused in the doorway, watching Khira as she glided across the floor and took a seat on the edge of the bed. It made a pretty image: the shimmering silver hair, the long ice white gown, the velvet black bedspread against the white carpet.

  "I think you will be comfortable here." Her hand slid back and forth over the bedspread, graceful, sensual. Suggestive.