Page 5 (2/2)

"One does not have to live an evil, co Dracule," Giordan said, then gritted his teeth against the sharp searing pain

Narcise fixed hi similar discomfort, she hid it well But then, she had a lot of practice "I&039;ve yet tothe old Romanian term for the Dracule, "who does not live only for hinity or pain of others Including reed to?"

Giordan could scarcely account for the fact that they were having such a conversation Surely Lucifer would burn the it difficult to even breathe in the presence of scalding pain At least it had distracted him from the lust and desire she caused in him

Perhaps this blunt conversation was due to the whiskey Perhaps it was because she felt the same connection-albeit unconsciously-that he did Perhaps she&039;d never had anyone to talk with about such things He could hardly fatho a discussion of this sort

"It is possible to live an honorable life as a Dracule I know of one who does, in fact," he said

"You?" She narrowed her eyes skeptically

"Well," he said, allowing a bit of levity into his voice, hiding the agony burning over his shoulder, "I have been known to estures But I spoke of my friend Dimitri, who is the Earl of Corvindale He has not fed on a mortal forfor a way to break the covenant with Lucifer"

"Impossible," she said

"I know it But he&039;s trying He rarely comes out of his study for any reason except to search out new s"

"And so that is why" Her voice trailed off, and she rubbed her lips together thoughtfully

Giordan suspected he knehat she&039;d been about to say Although he hadn&039;t been there, he are of the night in 1690, in Vienna, when Diht that Cezar had forced his way into the place and presented Narcise as an offering to his host-who had declined, having not the least bit of interest in her

How Dimitri could have been indifferent to the woine, but he was grateful for that fact in many ways

"What&039;s in the box?" he asked, once again noticing the small metal chest that sat aht use

"If you truly mean me no harmplease don&039;t open it," she said quickly That tension had returned to her beautiful features

"It must be your Asthenia," he said "And your brother allows it to be kept in here with you, when you are already at a disadvantage?" Anger chilled him Cezar Moldavi was one Dracule who deserved to burn in hell for eternity

Instead of responding, Narcise merely looked at him, which was as close to an admission as he expected

"Perhaps soh to tellover to the bottle of whiskey, and poured himself another drink As he sipped, he turned back to look at Narcise Overwhel to alter, but he buried it firmly

Not now

Not here

Not tonight

He gripped his glass tighter, focusing on the scent of the alcohol and not the essence of wo curve of her jaw, one that he suddenly wanted to brush his lips against, nor the ivory coluant

"Why did you do this?" she asked

"A variety of reasons, all of them-well, most of them-quite noble"

Narcise&039;s eyes lifted, focusing on him over the rim "Such as?"

"I&039;d seen you fence, and I wanted to test your skill myself I wanted the opportunity to talk to you"

Her eyes had narrowed and she flung the rest of her whiskey down her throat "But we did not fence, Monsieur Cale," she said, her voice even smokier, now baited hiskey "And you knew that I wasn&039;t at my best-"

"Which was precisely why I chose this way to do it I wasn&039;t coht it best to ensure that it all worked out in my favor" Giordan realized that he didn&039;t at allthat fact However "I realize you don&039;t know me very well, but I confess that I find it no little insult that you assumed I wanted to win so that I could lock you in a rooers so tight around the glass he feared it ht shatter

Her chin had snapped up at his blunt words, a shocked expression flickering across her face "Why should I have thought any differently?" she askedbut the tone in her voice wasn&039;t accusing or even defensive It eary

"Because," he replied, watching her, "when you fed on o, I didn&039;t so h all I wanted to do was drag ainst that wall and dig s into your shoulderand then your armand your breastthe inside, that very tender, reer, unsteady and rough "And then I would useyour skin"

She gasped audibly, and the color rose higher in her face Their eyesflame of desire in his The bald need

"I wanted to fill my hands with you, taste you I suspect you&039;ll be rich and war I wanted to slide ainst yours, feel the two textures of our skin enerated by the friction"

He knew his words were so soft they barely reached her ears, but the rise and fall of her chest and the growing blaze in her eyes told him that she heard hi love to her with his words, caressing her with his tones, "I realized it was you It would only be you Narcise"

Shefrom her cheeks "Lovely words, Monsieur Cale But what a ridiculous thing to say, froed and concentrated on the way his feet were planted on the floor Rooted, ce her face into his hands to show her how certain he was "I&039;ve never felt that way before, Narcise And I&039;ve lived a long tiaze on hihtened, swellingaround his ares of his wrist He couldn&039;t dish the heat of his blood, and the need burning in her eyes

"I said I&039; "But that doesn&039;t mean that you cannot touch me"