He bit her when she came again.

Robert had wanted to save it for another round, but the impulse had been too strong.

Sharon cried out, fighting his hold on her, but a moment later, as the euphoria hit, all the fight left her. His own climax went on and on, spilling his essence into the condom until he was sure it overflowed the rubber’s capacity.

Orgasming again, Sharon milked the last drops out of him and then passed out with a blissful expression on her face.

For a few moments, he stared at her peaceful face, admiring her flushed cheeks, the long lashes fanning over them, and the lips that were still swollen and red from their kisses. She was so beautiful.

With a sigh, Robert retracted carefully, remembering at the last moment to hold on to the condom as he did. Tying it off, he padded to the bathroom where he dumped it into the trashcan. Collecting several washcloths, he wet them with warm water before going back to the bedroom.

Sharon was still passed out, not moving a muscle when he cleaned her and then covered her with the blanket. When he returned from the bathroom after tossing the washcloths in the laundry bin, she was still sleeping.

As he examined her neck, he was glad to see that the bite marks were gone already. She should be waking soon. In the meantime, he could watch her for a little longer, memorizing every little freckle on her beautiful face. He didn’t want to forget anything about this. About her.

Tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that, she might decide he wasn’t the one for her and leave. But at least he’d have her features memorized for eternity.

There was a concentration of freckles on the bridge of her nose, shaped like a crescent moon, and a few others dotted the creamy-smooth skin of her flushed cheeks. Her lips were parted a little, revealing a hint of white teeth.

Robert freed a long strand of hair from under her arm and wound it around his finger. It was thick and yet soft to the touch, the deep brown interwoven with a more reddish color—chestnut he believed it was called.

Her beauty wasn’t stunning like Amanda’s, or tempting and alluring in its fake cherubic innocence like Carol’s, but he could stare at her face forever.

Was she going to stay asleep until morning?

He hoped she would. Maybe she’d think she’d dreamt the bite and he wouldn't have to thrall her. Spending the night with her in his arms would be the perfect ending to their perfect date.

Gently lifting the blanket, Robert joined Sharon under the covers, pulled her into his arms, and repositioned her head, so it rested on his pectoral.

Perfect.

Sleeping was not on the agenda for him. He planned on staying awake, watching his beauty, and savoring every moment she let him hold her close.

She shifted, making herself more comfortable by dropping an arm around his middle and a leg over his.

Several long minutes passed before her eyelids fluttered open.

“Hi,” he said. It was lame, but he didn’t know what else to say.

“Back to you.” The hand on his torso started moving in slow circles.

“Are you okay?” Another lame thing to say, but he needed to find out if she remembered the bite and if he needed to thrall her.

“I’m awesome.” Her other hand reached for the spot where his fangs pierced her skin, two fingers checking the skin. When she found nothing, Sharon shrugged. “Weird-ass dream.”

Robert closed his eyes and let out a breath.

“I want to ask you something,” she said.

He tensed. She was going to ask if he’d bitten her. “Yes?”

“Would you marry me?”

The girl was still high on endorphins. “Ask me when you’re sober. You’re not thinking straight.”

“I’m not drunk. I hardly had anything to drink at dinner.” She looked up at him with her big hazel eyes. “I wanted to be sober for this, and I’m glad I was. You’re the best lover I ever had.”

“You’re high on endorphins. Orgasms have that effect.”

She chuckled. “That’s why I want to marry you, silly. I want orgasms like that every night for the rest of my life. And sleeping in your arms is a nice bonus.” She wiggled closer and put her head on his chest. “You smell so good.”

He was still trying to come up with something to say when the hand on his middle went limp, and her breaths became deep and even.

It was a shame Sharon would remember none of that in the morning, and if she did, she would think she’d dreamt it. Nevertheless, he would cherish the memory of her proposal forever. It was the closest he’d get to being loved.