When he turned his face up to look at her, she swung the skillet as hard as she could, sending it ringing over Daniel’s head and knocking him backwards. “Don’t ever touch me again,” she growled, dropping the skillet onto the floor before she turned to go back to Lucian. “Thank you.”
Lucian chuckled, seeing the joy in her face and the freedom in the way she touched him. “For what, sweet Kendra?”
“For letting me do that. I’ve been wanting to knock some sense into him for a long time.” She grabbed his hand, swinging it in hers and laughing with more happiness than she’d known in a long time. “Do things like this happen around you all the time?”
“Things like…” His brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what she meant.
“Going into other peoples’ dreams.” She looked up at him expectedly. “That isn’t something normal people do, Lucian.”
“No, it isn’t what normal people do,” he said, empathizing with a crook of one of his slashing black eyebrows.
“Are you trying to tell me that you aren’t normal?” she asked, her green eyes meeting his dark blue ones. “I knew you were far beyond normal.”
“I’m not exactly people either, love.” He took a deep breath and let his fangs grow. He turned slowly, trying to frighten her overly much.
Kendra’s eyes widened and her fingers reached out hesitantly as if to touch the tips of his fangs.
“Careful,” he warned, tipping his head back. “They’re sharp.”
She’d pulled her hand back at his warning. “B-but this is my dream?” She reached out again, feeling the iciness of his lips and the ivory smooth feel of his teeth. With a hiss, she pulled her finger back, a tiny drop of blood beading on the tip. “Ouch.”
Lucian felt the thirst suddenly spring upon him and he snarled, wanting more than anything in the world to lean over and rip into her throat. He could feel himself getting out of control, the bright red drop like the waving of a flag in front of a bull. “Kendra,” he shouted, watching as fear filled her face. She could see his face, see the look of the hunter in his eyes and she shoved her hand behind her back, burying the bloody drop in the fabric of her skirt. “Run!” he shouted.
Kendra woke with a start, her eyes searching through the darkness frantically. “Lucian?” she whispered.
There was no answer in the darkness. She rose slowly, picking up her robe and pulling it over her shift. She went to the french doors, pushing them open and staring out into the garden. The moon had risen, reflecting in the still water of the pond that had been dug at the edge of the garden. It was a pretty sight and she sighed. “Lovely.”
“You are,” a voice said from next to the door.
Kendra managed not to scream but she did taken an involuntary step backward, her hand going to the throat of her robe and clutching it together. Her eyes were wide with shock.
“Lucian?” she whispered again
“Yes, it’s me.” He took another step forward and she could see him clearly. “How are you feeling?”
He sounded so caring as if her health were the most important thing to him. She nodded then shrugged. “A dream woke me.”
“A dream? Do you remember it?” He took another two steps toward her, almost able to touch her.
“It’s a bit hazy.” She looked up and into his face, shrugging her shoulders. “You were there.”
“I was?” he asked, a smile touching his lips. “Was I a hero?”
Her brow furrowed, a line forming between and above her nose. Her eyes shut as she tried to remember. “You told me to run,” she said slowly.
“Now why would I tell you to run?”
“You were warning me. It’s all hazy,” she repeated.
He reached out, his fingers smoothing over that line on her forehead so that she relaxed it. She smiled self-consciously. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” Lucian queried. “What do you need to be sorry for?”
Kendra glanced down at her feet letting her thoughts process. It was a jumble of nonsense that ran through her mind and she sighed again. “I can’t remember.”
“Oh, Kendra, it’s not terrible that you don’t remember your dream. There are lots of times I wish I didn’t remember mine. Think of it as a blessing.” He lifted her chin gently, smiling down at her.
Her face was pale, her eyes shadowed. The small light of the candle he’d brought with him shone in the strands of her hair, making her seem even more pale. He couldn’t help but touch her, his fingers running down the line of her throat. He could see the pulse in her neck and hear it as it grew louder, picking up its beat.
“I’ll do that,” she whispered, wondering what he would do if she gave into her desire and stepped even closer to him. She wanted to be close enough to smell his masculine scent and feel the hardness of his body against hers. “Is that why you’re out here? You couldn’t sleep?”
“I was concerned for you.”
A blush rose to her creamy cheeks. “I didn’t mean to worry anyone. But thank you for your concern.” She shrugged, dropping her eyes from his. “It’s been an unusual day.”
“Yes, it definitely has.” His fingers pushed through the hair at the nape of her neck, rubbing lightly. He could hear her sudden intake of air and felt the pulse of passion that the sound sent spiraling through him. He wanted her. No, he needed her, close to him, with him, under him.
The thought seemed to sink his inhibitions and he took a step closer, feeling her warmth through the thin fabric of her nightwear. “I want to kiss you.”