so quickly, so completely, with this man who was still a stranger in so many ways? She hardly knew him, and yet she felt as if she had always known him, as if her life had begun the night they met.
"Jason?"
He slid a glance in her direction. "What?"
"My folks would like to meet you."
The silence that followed her remark was absolute.
"Jason?"
"One day perhaps."
"How about next Sunday?"
"Leanne?"
"You don't want to, do you? Why not?"
"Surely you must have realized I'm a bit of a recluse when I'm not working."
"I know, but I'd really like them to meet you."
"I'll consider it."
"I'm sorry." She took her hand from his thigh, then looked out the window. "I didn't mean to push you, or make you think I was trying to?"
He muttered an oath as he pulled into the driveway and turned off the ignition. Getting out of the car, he opened the door for her, then drew her into his arms.
"I'm sorry, Leanne, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Please, just give me some time."Just give me tonight. "Come," he said, taking her hand. "I have a surprise for you."
Inside, he lit a dozen long blue tapers. "Sit down," he said, "I'll only be a moment."
With a nod Leanne sank down on the sofa. Kicking off her shoes, she stared at the candles flickering on the mantel.
A few minutes later, Jason returned. Kneeling in front of the fireplace, he lit a fire, and then he joined her on the sofa.
"Here," he said, handing her a long, slender box. "This is for you."
She opened the box with hands that trembled, and uttered a gasp of astonishment as she stared at the contents. "Oh, Jason, it's lovely."
"You like it, then?"
"Oh, yes." She ran her fingertip over the heavy gold chain, then outlined the filigreed heart-shaped locket. "But it must have cost a fortune."
"Only a small one." He lifted the chain from the box and fastened it around her neck. The heart-shaped locket settled in the cleft between her breasts. "I'm glad you like it."
"I love it. And I love you."
Her gaze met his, filled with such adoration that it made him want to shout, to sing. To weep. "Leanne, beloved?" He cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her gently.
"More," she whispered, and twining her arms around his neck, she kissed him passionately, her body pressing to his, inviting him to come closer.
Her nearness, the wanting he read in her eyes, made his pulse race with desire. Too fast, he thought, they were moving too fast. If he was to have only this one night, he wanted to savor every moment.
Leanne drew back, her eyes aglow. "Tell me," she whispered. "Tell me you love me."
"I love you."
"Have you loved many women?"
"No. Only one other."
"Who?"
"A girl from my childhood. She's dead now."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"It happened a long time ago."
He gazed into her eyes, longing to bury his hands in the wealth of her hair, to carry her to bed, and sheathe himself in the velvet heat of her all the night long?but he dared not. He would make love to her only once, just before dawn, and then he would let her go.
It took every ounce of willpower he possessed to keep from touching her. "Shall we watch your movie?"
"If you like. Have you seen it before?"
"No."
"You'll love it."
Jumping up, she slipped the tape into the VCR, then snuggled up against Jason, her head pillowed on his shoulder.
Langella made a most convincing vampire, Jason thought. Indeed, the movie hit close to home. Too close. He felt his desire for Leanne surge through him, along with a ravening thirst, as he watched Count Dracula seduce his lady love amidst a shimmering crimson backdrop while a bat hovered overhead.
A bat. He'd never changed into a bat in all his three hundred years; indeed, he didn't know if he could.
He felt his whole body tense as Dracula made a slit in his chest and offered Lucy a taste of his blood.
"I think he's the most realistic vampire I've ever seen," Leanne remarked. "I almost wish he didn't have to die in the end."
"Good always triumphs over evil, eventually," Jason remarked.
"I suppose, but he doesn't seem evil exactly," she mused. "I mean, I guess he can't help being what he is."
"No,"' Jason said, his voice strangely thick. "He can't."
"And he does seem to love her."
Jason gazed deeply into Leanne's eyes. "Yes, he does."
"I don't think I want to watch the end." She laughed self-consciously. "I've already seen one sad ending