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  Rene’s lips lifted in a feral smile. “We already have,” he said, nodding toward the narrow window. “Think he hasn’t been outside listenin’ the whole time?”

  “Just making sure she doesn’t kill you, friend,” came a muffled, laughing response from outside.

  Natalie gave a gasp of laughter, followed by a deep moan when Rene lifted his hips, drawing his cock out slowly, then plunged it back inside.

  Natalie slid her tongue along his jaw, tasting the sweat gathering there, but not daring to lick lower along his neck. “Making sure he knows exactly what we’re doing?”

  “The man spends too much time staring at your tits.”

  “He’s my teacher.”

  “He’s a man,” he bit out, his gaze dropping to her chest. “You have pretty tits. Prettier by the day.”

  “More sensitive too,” she drawled, raising her chest to scrape her nipples against his curling hair.

  “Saying you want me to play with them?”

  “I’m just saying—” The next sharp stroke forced a gasp from her. “Oh God!”

  “Notice something, chère?”

  “Can’t think, actually,” she gasped.

  “You haven’t tried to take a bite.”

  “That’s ’cause you’ve kept me too busy talking.”

  “I know. Thought I’d try a different tack.”

  “Dammit, Rene,” she said, squeezing her inner muscles hard around his cock. “I have to kill you.”

  “I know, baby. And I’m ready.”

  That stopped her. Her gaze clung to his. “You sure?”

  “I really think I should be there,” a muffled comment came from outside the window.

  “This is between Natalie and me, Simon,” Rene growled.

  “You saw what happened the last time she turned a man.”

  Natalie licked her lips and felt the inexorable slide of her teeth as they lengthened, readying for the ultimate bite. “Maybe I need more practice.”

  “You gettin’ cold feet now?” Rene said, leaning down to kiss her, his tongue sweeping inside her mouth then drawing gingerly over the razor-sharp edge of one incisor. “The promise too hard to keep?”

  Natalie closed her eyes, tasting the delicious tang of his hot blood. “I don’t want to make a mistake. I might lose you.”

  “What will help?”

  “If you stay on top, there won’t be anything, not even gravity, to break my hold on your throat. Maybe we need some help?”

  “I’m already here,” Simon said from beside the bed.

  Rene shot him a furious glance. “Make sure you keep your clothes on.”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” Simon said silkily.

  Rene’s smile wasn’t the least amused. “You know I’m going to have to kick your ass.”

  “Let’s get this done right first, and maybe I’ll let you.” He stood with his hands on his hips, one brow rising. “You’ll need to get on your knees.”

  “Jesus,” Natalie murmured as Rene came off her, exposing her naked, splayed thighs to Simon’s gleaming glance.

  “Just get to your knees, sweetheart,” Simon murmured. “Straddle him.”

  Natalie kept her gaze glued to Rene’s as she climbed over him, not surprised when he guided his cock straight into her despite the fact they weren’t alone. Likely he was just marking his territory. “Pee on me later, and I’ll kick you.”

  “Just makin’ sure he knows who owns this pu—”

  “I think he gets the point,” Natalie said quickly, her vagina already starting the sexy little convulsions that constricted tightly around Rene’s shaft. “Do this quick. Can’t take much more.”

  When the cot dipped behind her, she drew a deep breath.

  “I’m going to hold you, Natalie. I’ll talk you through it so you don’t get lost. At the last moment, we’ll have to lay him down together.”

  “Sounds damn cozy,” Rene growled, one hand gripping the back of her hair, holding her back.

  “I’ll honor your vows,” Simon said.

  “Still too much wiggle room for my liking,” Rene said. “Maybe we shoulda been more specific.”

  “Dammit, Rene,” Natalie moaned. The moment had arrived, and the two of them were still negotiating? “Please…”

  Rene pulled her head close and slammed his lips on hers, his kiss devouring her mouth. When he dragged his mouth away, he leaned back his head and closed his eyes. “Do it. Do it now.”

  Beyond caring what Simon would see, what any of the Templar Knights might see from the shadows of the long barracks, she rolled her hips and pumped up and down on his cock. Then she leaned close, her breaths shortening with her rising excitement, her heart hammering loudly in her ears.

  Still, she could hear the deep throbbing bass of Rene’s heartbeat, so much slower than hers. He wasn’t afraid.

  She lapped her tongue along his neck, felt the thrum of his pulse just below the skin, and turned her head to the side.

  Still in control of her actions, she bit him, just deep enough to slide her teeth into his artery. Her mouth quickly filled with blood and she murmured, drawing on him, suckling against his skin like a baby.

  Rich, hot liquid slid down her throat, warming her all the way to her belly, until the heat flooded her core and she had to move more quickly, had to reach the pinnacle or die.

  She slammed down his shaft, grinding her swollen clit against the base of his cock while he groaned, his hands clamping hard on her hips to force her up and down.

  When her orgasm roared through her body, her jaws clamped harder on his neck and she screamed against his slick skin.

  “Enough, love. Natalie! Let go.”

  The voice, urgent and furious, broke through her blood-soaked haze, and she opened her mouth, gasping for air as her teeth disengaged from Rene’s throat. Her mind cleared in an instant and she lapped at the wounds she’d made along his throat until the bleeding slowed.

  She felt a sharp pain slice across her wrist but didn’t lash out, realizing Simon was only helping as he forced her hand to Rene’s slackened mouth.

  Blood streamed into his mouth, filling it, while Simon rubbed his throat, encouraging him to swallow.

  They both held their breath until Rene gurgled and at last swallowed, taking her blood into his belly. As his ashen face filled with rosy color, Natalie shared a smile with Simon, then looked around, realizing others had entered the barracks and stood ready—likely to wrestle her from Rene’s body if she hadn’t cooperated.

  As it was, the arms that had held their bodies latched together lowered Rene to the mattress. A wet towel swiped the blood from Rene’s neck and her mouth.

  Dazed but happy, Natalie leaned back against Simon’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

  His lips glided along her cheek. “I think you can handle the rest, non?” The arms that had surrounded her slipped away.

  She nodded sleepily, barely noticing when Rene licked her wrist and laid his head back on the mattress. Soon, the cramping pain would wrack his body as he transformed. For now, they were both tired.

  Slumping against his chest, she sighed as his fingers threaded through her hair. “Now, was that so bad?” she murmured.

  Rene stirred beneath her. “Simon,” he said, his voice rasping harshly. “Get out.”

  Soft laughter followed fading footsteps out of the barracks.

  Natalie straightened her legs to lie atop Rene’s, but not letting his cock slip from inside her. She wasn’t ready yet to let him go. He filled her body, her heart—she felt connected in a way she never had before.

  “So this is it?” Rene asked, his voice hoarse, thick.

  “No turning back now,” she said, pressing a kiss to one flat nipple, then snuggling her cheek against his chest.

  His palm cupped her cheek. His thumb lifted her chin until their glances met. “I meant it, Natalie.”

  “I know. I love you enough never to break my promise.”

  His jaw tightened for a moment, then his lips stre
tched into a soft smile. “I love you too. Before you took your first bite.”

  The kernel of doubt she’d carried for the weeks she’d known him disappeared beneath the soft heat of his gaze.

  “I’m here because I want to be. I’m with you now because I love you, chère.”

  Natalie scooted higher, reaching to kiss him. As his arms closed around her, she knew they faced many perils in the centuries to come. Her heart warmed, filling the empty space inside her, knowing she wouldn’t be making the journey alone.

  About the Author

  DELILAH DEVLIN resides in South Texas at the intersection of two dry creeks, surrounded by sexy cowboys in Wranglers—she likes living dangerously! To Delilah, the greatest sin is driving between the lines because it's comfortable and safe. Her personal journey has taken her through one war, many countries, cultures, jobs, and relationships to bring her to the place she travels now—writing sexy adventures that hold more than a kernel of autobiography and often share a common thread of self-discovery and transformation. She has e-published numerous books, which have garnered her awards and rave reviews.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  AFTER DARK. Copyright © 2007 by Delilah Devlin. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  ePub edition July 2007 ISBN 9780061738593

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  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Contents

  After Dark

  About the Author

  Copyright

  About the Publisher