The house was strangely quiet.

Gabrielle sat up against the headboard, surprised to find herself alone in the big bed. She winced, her body aching, which reminded her of what had transpired in this bed in the past twenty-four hours.

It was hard to believe she had given her virginity to a man she hardly knew. And a vampire at that.

Her stomach turned, knowing they had to speak of their differences one day. How could they not, but now the very idea scared her.

She must not forget for a moment that she now lived in a different world. Living life as a creature of the night, save she was not a vampire.

But she had made love to one.

And it had been amazing. Indeed, she would never forget it for as long as she lived. Now she understood why the French called an orgasm “the little death.” Indeed, she had died many, many times last night. And I want to die again, she thought to herself with a wicked smile.

Even the sheets felt strangely erotic against her skin. Memories of the night before flooded her, of the pleasure she had experienced at the hands of Darius MacLeod. What a wonderful lover he was.

Excited to see him again, she pulled the bed curtain back and got out of bed. The room was dark, save for a candelabra that had been lit, the candles flickering by the slight draft the curtain had made. The thick velvet drapes had been pulled open and the moonlight spilled in through the windows.

How strange it was to be waking just as others were getting ready for bed. She pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around her.

Catching her reflection in the mirror, she gasped. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was in serious need of a good brushing. Indeed, it would take some time to get the brush through the tangles. Perhaps she would need to take a long, leisurely soak in a tub.

She envisioned herself there, the warm water caressing her sore body, and perhaps Darius could join her—

She smiled inwardly. What a wicked woman she had become in such a short period of time.

Glancing over her shoulder at the closed door, she dropped the sheet and looked at her body. Last night Darius had stared at her, and she had felt the blush race up her neck and face. Her body was far from perfect, but he made her feel comfortable.

And his body! Even now her blood stirred in her veins just thinking of his powerful body and large cock that had filled her to the womb.

The door shut abruptly, and she turned to find Darius standing there, holding a large box.

She gasped and laid a hand against her pounding heart. “Darius! I did not hear the door open.”

He had stopped short, his gaze sliding over her naked body. “I did not mean to startle you, lass.”

Embarrassed to be caught staring at her naked body in the mirror, she covered herself with the sheet and went to him, going up on her toes to give him a kiss.

“I have a gift for you,” he said, tossing the box on a nearby settee. “But it can wait.” He took off his gloves a finger at a time, all the while watching her, his gaze shifting over her in a way that made her insides burn.

Though she was covered by the sheet, she still felt naked. The room was cool and her body responded, her nipples tightening into firm buds. Excitement rippled along her spine, filling her with anticipation.

He tossed the glove aside and worked on the other.

“Perhaps I should take a bath,” she suggested.

“Later,” he said, throwing the second glove aside. Shrugging out of his jacket, he then followed with his waistcoat.

As he undressed, her heart rate accelerated and her palms began to sweat. Now this was a man who could make any woman weak at the knees. The kind of man who could make a woman crazy with jealousy.

The thought of him with another woman gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Why she should feel so strongly so soon after having met him made her question her sanity.

Oh, but we have not only just met. We have known each other before. We have loved before.

An image came at her abruptly. She stood at an altar in an old chapel with stained-glass windows. She wore her hair long, much as she did now, falling in waves to her hips. The gown was light blue and fit tight at her shoulders and waist. A silver girdle rode low on her hips, and a crown of heather held the transparent veil in place.

Darius stood at her side wearing dark breeches and a dark tunic with a sash of his clan plaid. He looked at her with love and adoration.

Tears burned Gabrielle’s eyes as they held hands and spoke their love in front of a small crowd of friends and family members. She recognized Demetri, much as he was now, but dressed similar to Darius.

The memory faded as Darius’s boots hit the floor, and Gabrielle’s throat went dry.

He walked to her, reached out for her, his hands cupping her face. “I missed you, lass.”

“I missed you, too.”

He grinned wolfishly and bent his head to kiss her. He tasted so good and smelled even better, his scent consuming her, making her want to crawl right back into bed and stay there for days.

She placed her hands on his narrow hips before cupping his high, firm buttocks.

He made a wonderful primal sound, low in his throat. A pleasing sound that made her smile.

Gaining confidence by the second, she quickly, and with amazing deftness for not having done so before, unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down over his hips, to the floor, where she kicked them aside.

He grinned against her lips and picked her up in his arms, walking toward the bed they had shared so many hours in already.

She noticed the bloodstain on the sheets for the first time, and apparently so did he. He stiffened, looked at the blood, and then at her. “You are mine, Gabrielle. Mine and only mine. I am your first and only lover. Understood?”

Loving the possessiveness in his voice, she nodded. “Yes, as long as you agree to the same. I will be your only lover, too.”

If he was stunned by her declaration and demand, he did not show it. His eyes had an intensity about them she had not before seen. This was the warrior from the past. A man used to fighting for what he believed in. A man who believed in loyalty and pledges. A man she had married in another life. “Aye, you will be my only lover, Gabby.”

Laying her down on the bed, he immediately followed, his body flush against her.

She wrapped her arms around him, savoring the feel of his hard, muscular body. Her hands brushed up and down along his sides, and she smiled, feeling the goose bumps that followed. She grabbed his buttocks again and loved the way he tucked his hips, pressing his cock against her.

Pushing her legs open with his knees, he whispered against her lips, “Guide me home, Gabrielle.”

With hand trembling, she wrapped her fingers around his thick cock and guided the engorged head into her moist heat. She winced, her tissues swollen and aching.

“You are still sore, lass. Will you be all right, or should we wait for another time?”

She lifted her hips. “Do you want to wait?”

He actually trembled. “I do not want you in pain.”

“That is not the question I asked, Darius.” She looked into his eyes, and his top teeth bit into his bottom lip, proof that he was fighting an inner battle. The hard cock against her belly said he wanted her, and yet his expression said he did not want to cause her pain.

She lifted her face, kissing him. Reaching between their bodies, he played with her tiny button.

Her body came to life under his touch, and already she reached for orgasm. Their tongues parried slowly, and he continued to play with her clit. Pulling his mouth from hers, he bent his head and took a nipple into his mouth.

His tongue brushed over the sensitive bud, flicking it over and over again. So many different sensations rocked her body, and she cried out with pleasure.

He kept it up for long, delicious minutes until she came with a satisfied moan. Though she had climaxed, she still ached to have him fill her with his long, thick cock.

He kissed her throat, her neck, the pulse beating wildly there, and nipped at her ear.

Excitement rushed through her, heating her blood, making her crazy with need. She pulled his hair a little and bit his shoulder lightly.

Sliding into her gently, he let out a guttural groan that made her smile with joy. He looked at her then, his fierce eyes staring straight into hers. The smile slowly faded as he thrust again and again, his gaze unrelenting.

Her blood burned with each thrust, and having him watch her so intently only added to her desire.

He bent his dark head, his silky hair falling over her breasts as he kissed her neck. A moment later she felt a sharp pain there, a piercing stab that disappeared as she climaxed. The release was so intense, lifting her up higher and higher. She felt like her insides were exploding into a thousand tiny pieces.

Darius’s satisfied moan let her know he had reached orgasm as well, his hips pressed hard against her. So hard she felt herself drawing close to another climax. He ground his hips hard against her clit, and it was enough to have her crying out again, her inner walls pulling his cock further inside her body.

He collapsed on her, and she smiled to herself while her hands roamed the width of his broad shoulders and strong back. Her legs trembled with the force of that last climax.

She felt Darius’s very faint heartbeat, and for the first time it matched a rhythm similar to hers.

So many questions swirled in her mind, but she could not voice any of them. Not now. It was too soon, and she didn’t want anything ruining what they had experienced this past twenty-four hours.

* * *

Darius could hear Gabrielle’s thoughts as clearly as his own. Had those questions been brought on by the fact he had bit her in a moment of passion, completely forgetting the pledge he had made to himself when he first set eyes on her?

It had taken a second to realize his error, but by then it had been too late. One taste of her blood had sent him over the edge and the climax had been unlike anything he had experienced before.

But he had let her down, and even more, he had let himself down. He had made a promise he would protect her from everyone, and yet he had bit her without her consent. He could have made her into a vampire had he lost all control and drank her dry.

Making her like him made sense. That way, they could be together for all eternity.

Pushing the thought aside, he kissed her gently, savoring the moment of having her naked in his arms.

Her blood had tasted better than the finest champagne. An elixir, one he would not deny himself.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, looking into her eyes.

Thankfully there was no accusation in those green depths. Nothing but immense sexual satisfaction. A woman who by all accounts looked pleased with her lover. “No,” she replied, lifting her head, kissing him softly.

All the fear he had been feeling melted away under that kiss. He would never tire of this. Never tire of the moments he had been denied with Rose. Back in those times, he and his wife had only shared a handful of stolen moments together. War with England and other clans had kept him away from home much of the time. When he had come home that last time, she had become more of a stranger than wife, and he could blame only himself.

“I would love to take a bath,” she said, going up on an elbow. How he loved just staring at her. So beautiful and fragile. When he had seen the blood on the sheets, his heart had leapt with not just joy, but possession. Like with Rose, he had been the first man to touch her, and he would show Gabrielle all the ways to love.

“Did you not hear me?” she asked, her brow furrowing. Even when she frowned she was gorgeous. “You looked a million miles away.”

He reached out and cupped her face. “You do not wish to stay in bed with me all day and night? I am hurt, lass.”

Her full lips curved into a sexy smile. “I would love to stay in bed all hours of the day—but only after I take a long, hot bath. If only to soothe my poor, sore body.”

Indeed, she would be sore.

He rolled off her, bringing her with him, until she lay on top of him.

“I think I can accommodate you, lass.”

“Could you now?” she said, doing her best to imitate his accent, but failing miserably. “You could use a bath yerself, lad.”

He could not help but laugh at her horrible accent. But his laughter was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Darius, I must speak with you.”

It was Demetri, and by the tone of his voice it must be urgent.

“I shall see to that bath, love.” He kissed her nose, eased off of her, and left the bed