Lavinia was famished. In the excitement of the last day, she had forgone food, and now the mere idea of pizza made her drool.

The detective approached them as they reached the first-floor landing. “I’ve directed the delivery boy to the kitchen,” he said, motioning for a cleaner to administer more chemicals on a stain on the floor.

“Go ahead,” Adrian told her as he paused to talk to his friend.

She found the four trays of pizza waiting for her on the kitchen countertop where Adrian had earlier placed the breakfast food, now cold and unappealing. On the other hand, the pizza smelled divine, and the trays sat on a hot plate. Only after the third piece did she slow to savor the wholesome ingredients and the perfect texture of the artisanal pizza Adrian, or rather, his PA, had ordered.

“There’s some chilled Chardonnay, if you’d like,” Adrian said, entering the kitchen and walking straight to the wine fridge. He retrieved a bottle and grabbed two flutes from the antique credenza in the corner.

With her mouth stuffed with pizza, Lavinia finally remembered to sit at the table as Adrian uncorked the bottle and poured the white wine. He picked one of the delicate-looking glasses by the long stem and handed it to her.

“What is it?” he asked her with a raised eyebrow.

She hadn’t realized she had been gawking at him, but she couldn’t help it. Adrian was not only handsome, he was also sophisticated. Everything from his cultivated accent to his elegant movements spoke of a social status that was light years from hers. The way he brought the flute to his mouth in a slow and deliberate gesture made her weak at the knees.

They hadn’t spent a full day together yet, but the strength of her sentiments for Adrian had already increased to the point where she couldn’t imagine living without him.

“We should talk to that librarian before we leave,” she said before downing the wine in one gulp.

“It might not be possible to talk to him right now, but I intend to have the conversation as soon as things get back to normal around here.” Adrian looked over his shoulder, drawing her attention to the foyer where the detective was talking to an officer. “May I ask you why you want to talk to the librarian?”

Lavinia pushed the glass toward him, silently asking for more liquid courage.

Adrian softly shook his head. “What’s troubling you?”

“Besides my best friend’s murder and several attempts on my life?” Her chuckle came out bitter even though she had meant the words to sound humorous.

Reaching out across the table, Adrian took her hand and started drawing circles on her wrist with his fingers. “Besides that.”

“What if this Thirst of yours is temporary?” she asked, her heart in her throat.

“The psychologist mentioned something similar for werewolves. The Hunger, right?” His eyes were warm, and his touch sent shivers up her arms.

“I’ve heard about it—”

“From what you’ve heard, is the Hunger temporary?”

“No, it sounds like a forever bond.” The shivers traveled from her arms to her chest.

“So, what makes you think that my Thirst is any different?” His question was softly spoken and, combined with his caresses, melted her senses into a puddle of sensual need.

“I’m scared you might get bored once you feed from me,” she said all in one breath, without pauses between the words.

His strokes stopped at once. He tilted his head, studying her for a moment. “You think that my attraction to you is due to the Thirst and it might not be real?”

Hearing it from his mouth gave her fear strength. “Yes, that’s exactly it.”

Adrian’s expression transformed from serious to amused and a smile dimpled his cheeks. “If that’s the only concern you have,” he said, “let me reassure you.” Shifting on his seat, he pulled her into his lap. “I know without a doubt that these all-encompassing feelings that I have for you are here to stay. You are mine, and I am yours, for all eternity.”

“But you too have doubts,” she said, trying to put together the thoughts in her mind and express them in sentences that made sense. “You want to talk to the librarian as well.”

“Yes, I do.” He dipped his head and kissed her. “But not because I have any worries about us. We are bloodmates. I knew it was the truth the moment I met you. I can solemnly swear to you that there won’t ever be another woman for me.” He took her hand and pressed it against his heart, then mirrored the gesture with his, pressing the palm of his hand against her chest. “Can’t you feel it?”

Her heartbeats and his were in sync. They created a celestial melody, a unique rhythm that was the signature of their union.

She blinked, tears welling in her eyes. “I do,” she answered, throwing her arms around Adrian’s neck and kissing him. Then, she moved to straddle him, pressing her breasts against his chest as she deepened the kiss. Her hands roamed his back, playing with his hair before moving to the front and traveling toward his belt.

His hand landed on hers and stopped her before she could open his pants. “It kills me to say so, but it’s better not to start anything we can’t finish.” With a mischievous grin, he looked over his shoulder. “We have company, my love.”

Only then did Lavinia notice the detective standing at the door. Blushing, she hid her face against Adrian’s chest. “What’s wrong with me?”

“Nothing is wrong with you,” Adrian answered the question she hadn’t realized she had uttered out loud. “It’s as it should be between bloodmates. If what we have been experiencing so far is any indication of what our relationship is going to be, the flames of our passion are sure to burn Rome when I finally feed from you.” He grazed the spot where her neck and shoulder met, making her shiver violently as pleasure pulsed through her.

It took all her willpower not to grind against his hardness, but one look over his shoulder confirmed that the detective was still there, although he kept his eyes on his cell phone.

“Mark,” Adrian called, motioning with a tilt of his head for the detective to come closer.

“Sorry to interrupt your lunch,” Lane said to Lavinia before addressing Adrian. “I talked to Collins, and he said that as long as I can get a hold of you, he has no problems with you leaving Rome—”

“Not that what Collins thinks matters to me one way or another where my bloodmate is concerned.” Adrian’s tone was deceptively calm, and the steely edge underneath his composure was hard to miss, but the entire time he spoke, he kept stroking her back, providing her comfort.

Raw power emanated from his hard body, and Lavinia felt a shiver of excitement at being the sole focus of his attention. It was an intoxicating sensation.

The detective sighed. “I still have to work for him and am glad that there won’t be any problem with your departure.”

“Is there anything else?” Adrian asked.

“Yes, before I forget—” Lane tapped his hand against his leg. “Lando stopped by earlier… when you were busy upstairs.”

“Did he leave a message?” Adrian’s hand moved to Lavinia’s hair, massaging her scalp.

Lavinia could have purred and barely refrained from doing so out loud or arch against him.

“He said he found something about the Thirst and to get in contact with him when you have a moment to talk,” Lane said.

“Okay.” Adrian’s hand now caressed the small of her back.

“I just need your deposition, and I’ll be out of the way.” The detective turned on the recording app on his cell phone and asked both Adrian and Lavinia several questions. A few minutes later, he wrapped up his interview. “That’s enough for now.” He brought two fingers to his temple in salute and headed back into the hallway, finally leaving them alone.

The noise from the foyer and the open front door with people coming and going was enough to kill Lavinia’s mood, though.

“Let’s go upstairs,” she said, then jumped off him and pulled at his hand.

Adrian pulled back, rewarding her with the sexiest smile she had ever seem. “I have a better idea. Let’s hurry and finish this conversation on my plane.”