THIS CREATURE OF THE NIGHT ...

With his knuckle, he lifted her chin. He kissed her lips.

"You fool," he said, his coal eyes unfathomable. "Why did

you come?" And he held her close, not seeking an answer,

but she gave him one anyway.

"Because I love you," she said simply.

His arms tightened around her. She felt the deep heat

and erode tension of his lips against her flesh. "If you love

me, too," she whispered, "if you take my blood, drain me

to the point of death.., the chemistry can combine, the

stars can collide. Something can happen that can..."

He d gone still. Dead still. "Something that can make

me human again?"

"Yes," she said sofdy.

He rolled, his fingers sliding against hers as he brought

his weight atop her, his body-and eyes pinioning her in

the night. "And if not? If the chemistry, the stars, the

~ feeling ... the heart just isn t enough ... What if you re

damned, and no more?"

She felt the power of his strength. His hold was almost

painful. She didn t know if he meant it to be so or not.

She didn t flinch.

"I am willing to risk it," she said.