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Chapter 13

Kenton knew that look well.

Over the centuries, he’d seen it on plenty of occasions. His response had always depended on whether or not the woman was human. Kenton’s interactions with humans were typically brief. Out of necessity. If he needed to feed directly from a human, he would do so from the wrist, leaving her in a fog brought on by the healing of his bite. By the next day, she would forget the entire encounter.

Though his brothers had spoken of the sensual pleasure of being with a woman and drinking from her, the thought had always appalled him. So why couldn’t he banish the desire to be inside Alessandra while he sank his teeth into her neck? It simply wouldn’t go away.

Even if she did not become a vampire hunter . . . even if the Derricksons were right in their insistence the Cheld could remain harmless after gaining their abilities, he could absolutely not be with this woman.

But the idea of running his hands over every inch of her body . . . of tasting her, of making love to her . . . It was more tempting than the harem he’d been offered in the eighteenth century. He’d turned it down, knowing his mother would not have approved, and insisted the women be provided for.

But he wasn’t sure he could turn Alessandra down.

Something about this woman, her innate sensuality and strength and boldness, spoke to him in a way no woman ever had.

This was absolute madness.

“Shall we order?” Alessandra asked.

The waitress’s timely return took his mind off her, albeit briefly. Even two drinks and a meal later, he was still struggling to keep up his end of the conversation. In silent agreement, they’d shifted to easier topics. Her new job at the university, their shared love of history, and even the book Alessandra was currently reading. But Kenton couldn’t stop thinking of how much of a mistake it had been to tempt himself this way.

He wouldn’t kill her unless she became a threat. But he also could not give in to a desire that could be a threat to his entire family. Instead, he would watch her, study her every development.

Then why am I tormenting both of us this way? Why not just watch her from afar?

“How was your pasta?” she asked.

Though he ate, and drank, and could derive pleasure from both, Kenton did not need it. His true nourishment came from a different source. But he could still appreciate good food, and this quaint lakeside restaurant in the middle of nowhere could compete with some of his favorites in the world.

“Unbelievable.”

He already knew she’d enjoyed her meal too. Like everything she did, Alessandra ate with gusto. Quick to frown, and to smile, she tore into life like a knight practicing on a pele—fully committed and unrelenting. So when she shifted the subject back to murder, he had to smile. Briefly.

“So back to this murdering thing,” she said, as if it were a natural segue. “I just don’t understand exactly what would make me, or my ancestors, do such a thing. Surely these abilities could be used for something, I don’t know, more productive than murder?”

He could not tell her everything without revealing himself, something he was not yet ready to do. With any luck, two weeks would be long enough to gauge whether she would become a threat.

And if she does? Will you still let her, and her family, walk away?

He didn’t know how to answer that, so instead he said, “Your history is long, and complicated.”

She swept a strand of stray hair behind her ear. That small gesture was what made him change his mind. As much as he told himself the small taste of Alessandra he’d had was enough, and that his goal was simply to assess her as a threat and test the Derricksons’ theories on the Cheld, Kenton had been alive for long enough to know when he was attempting to fool himself.

He was the epitome of control and would exercise the same self-restraint as he had that morning. If he wanted to.

And he no longer cared to do so.

“I have all night to listen,” she said.

They were finished here. Kenton mentally tabulated the bill, doubled it, and tucked the necessary amount of cash under his plate.

“No.” He stood. “You do not.”

Confused, she stood with him. Then, taking the arm he offered, Alessandra allowed Kenton to lead her away from the front of the restaurant, to the side steps leading instead to the docks below.

Ushering her in front of him, Kenton followed Alessandra down the stairs.

When they reached the bottom of the steps, Kenton spun her toward him. Then, in full view of the diners above, should they glance down and see them, he captured her lips with his own. He kissed her so thoroughly that when Alessandra tore away from him, she was quite literally out of breath.