She didn’t doubt that. She couldn’t imaginenever remembering the joy of their time together, but she wouldhave grown to love him again.
Pulling away, Julian sat up and studied heras if he were scared she wasn’t real. Aida slid off the couch, andencircling her arms around his waist, she rested her head on hischest. The reassuring beat of his heart burned away her remainingtension.
“It’s over; he’s dead,” she whispered.
Julian ran his fingers over her silken hairas he held her against him. “I brought him here.”
“Noneof this was your fault. Geraldwas a fucking psycho; you never could have anticipated he wouldstalk you like he did. You did the right thing by saving thatwoman. You couldn’t have let her die.”
“I know, but—”
“But what?” she demanded. “There is no but.He’s dead; that woman is alive because of you, and we have eachother. Are there any other vamps who might crawl out of thewoodwork to hunt you down?”
“Not that I’m aware of, but I wasn’t aware ofGerald either. Who knows if the Savage I killed when I firstarrived or the vamp from the bar has any friends or family outthere?”
“If that happens, then we will deal with it.I think we’ve proven we’re pretty strong together.”
He smiled before kissing her. “That we have.I’ll never let anyone take you from me.”
“No one ever will,” she assured him.
CHAPTER 47
Before going to sleep, Aida drank some of Julian’sblood in the hopes her cheek would look better in the morning. Whenshe woke the next day, her cheek still ached, but the lump was nolonger the size of a golf ball.
Julian tried to pull her back when she slidfrom the bed, but she evaded his grasping hands. “I’ll be rightback,” she said and kissed his forehead.
A strand of black hair fell into his eye whenit cracked open. “Everything all right?”
She rested her hand on his cheek. “Yes.”
Pushing herself off the bed, she snatched herrobe from the floor and pulled it on before leaving her room toplod down to the bathroom. The apartment was so quiet, she didn’tthink anyone else was home, and she couldn’t recall hearing Kyleand Cassidy return last night.
They’d probably decided to rent a couple ofrooms somewhere to give her and Julian time alone. She didn’t feelgood about chasing her roommates away, but she was glad to have theapartment to themselves.
She pushed open the bathroom door and steppedinside. When she flicked on the light, her eyes widened at herreflection in the mirror over the sink. Her face was ashen, shadowslined her eyes, and the purple bruise marring her cheekbone stilllooked ugly, but it was a lot better than last night.
She used the toilet before washing her handsand splashing water on her face. Feeling a little more awake, shedried herself and returned to her bedroom. Sitting up on the bed,Julian had his back against the wall when she entered.
The blankets fell to expose his well-muscledchest, and her feet froze as she stopped to admire him. Thismagnificent man, with his kind heart, gorgeous face, and a bodythat could rival the gods washers. Her fingers alone knewevery inch of him. She was the only one who would ever experiencethe pleasure of having him inside her, and the only one who couldcomplete him.
She smiled as she marveled at thisknowledge.
“My face is a lot better,” she said.
He grunted, but she didn’t miss the flash ofred in his eyes when they latched onto her cheek. When he openedhis arms to her, she eagerly went into them. Curling up againsthim, she rested her hand on his chest as she closed her eyes andsavored the delicious scent of him.
“I have to call out of work,” she said. “I’venever done it before, but I can’t go to the gallery with my facelooking like this.”
“I can give you more of my blood,” heoffered.
Aida contemplated this as she ran her fingersdown his chest to trace the ridges of his abs. Her skin tingled asher mouth went dry. Touching him was one of the greatest joys ofher life. She would always belong in his arms, and she never wantedanything like what happened with Gerald to occur again.
If she were a vampire, she would recognizewhen someone else was. She wouldn’t be able to tell if someone wasa Savage, but at least if she knew they were a vamp, they couldn’tsurprise her as Gerald did. She’d also be stronger and more capableof defending herself.
“I have tomorrow off,” she said as herfingers played with the trail of hair leading toward his stiffeningcock.
“That’s good,” Julian said as he raptlywatched her hand.
