They made love for hours and then Jonny held Ashley as she dozed for an hour or two, until shortly after sundown. Their day had been nothing but feats of athleticism, first in the sparring ring and then in his bed. She was everything he expected - and everything he didn't know he had missed. He hadn't slept with a woman who wasn't under his spell in years, and Ashley's independence and lack of inhibition in bed were an even greater turn on than the way she said his name.

Rejuvenated by her blood, recharged by the post-sex rest, Jonny found himself returning to a thought he wasn't certain he wanted to entertain.

He had never really stopped caring for Ashley.

But emotions didn't have a place with him now, no matter what Charles thought about him needing a motivation to fight. He already had a reason - his vamps. He understood his purpose and duty and how the fate of a race of creatures rested on his shoulders and his decisions.

What he didn't understand was how he felt about Ashley or what to do about it. Emotion had no place in his brutal world, no matter what he told himself about her promising to stay in exchange for her life and her skills. She would always be in danger, always surrounded by predators.

She shifted in his arms, and he instinctively pulled her closer, not wanting to lose the feel of her skin on his.

Then again, if anyone could survive his world, it was Ashley, who had managed to earn the respect of vamps in days where he had struggled for years.

"What happened yesterday?" she asked sleepily. "Why did you lose so many?"

He was quiet for a moment, disturbed whenever he considered what had gone wrong. "One of my sites was ambushed," he replied and rested fingertips against the strong pulse in her neck. He had the urge to sink his teeth into her whenever they were together, whether or not he was really hungry. The primal side of him, the vamp he tried to keep under control, yearned to claim her.

"I want to go tonight," she said and twisted onto her back.

He saw her face in the darkness of the room. Jonny shifted to accommodate her movement and wrapped his arms around her once more. Ashley snuggled against his chest and sighed in contentment.

"Please?" she added hopefully.

He smiled. "Can you handle it? Honestly?"

She was quiet.

"I'll know if you can't," he teased and nuzzled her neck.

She moved to expose the delicate skin to him. "Does this help encourage you?"




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