He watched her walk toward the stairs; then, with a wry smile, he muttered, “I love you, too.”
He grinned when she waved a hand to let him know she’d heard the words he spoke all too seldom. She might be proud, vain, sometimes annoying, often demanding, but there was no denying that he loved her more than words could say.
Which made him more determined than ever to find out who was looking for her. And why.
Knowing Logan was waiting for her, Mara put a little extra swing in her stride when she entered the bedroom, smiled smugly when her husband whistled under his breath. Although she had known him for centuries, her lust for him, her need for him, had never waned. Even when she’d told herself she didn’t love him, didn’t need him or any other man, it had been a lie.
“Did you find out anything?” Throwing back the covers, he patted the space beside him, his eyes hot as she slipped out of her robe, revealing a diaphanous black gown that was little more than a whisper of silk.
“No.” She slid into bed beside him, her body pressing against his.
“You met the girl?”
“Yes. She doesn’t know anything. She’s just a foolish little vampire groupie.”
Logan laughed softly. “I guess she hit the mother lode.”
Mara tossed her head. “I don’t want to talk about her or hunters, or wannabe vampires.”
“No?” Wrapping her in his arms, he nuzzled her breasts. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Nothing.” She traced the width of his shoulders, raked her fingers down his chest. He was a magnificent creature, with the physique of a Greek god and honest, deep-set brown eyes. She had turned him on a whim. Another man might have hated her for it, but not Logan. He had never bewailed the loss of his humanity. To the contrary, he had readily accepted his new way of life, and her, without reproach. She had always admired him for that.
“Derek thinks you’re in danger.”
Eyes flashing, Mara pushed him back on the bed and straddled his hips. “I said I don’t want to talk.”
Throwing his arms out to the side in a gesture of feigned surrender, he grinned at her. “I’m all yours, woman. Have your wicked way with me.”
Mara leaned forward, her hair falling around the two of them like a black velvet curtain. “That is exactly what I had in mind.”
Chapter Six
Pearl Jackson leaned back in her chair and swirled the wine in her glass. “I’m bored.”
“You’re always bored,” Edna replied, refilling her own glass.
“Well, can you blame me? It’s been years since we had any fun.” Pearl sipped her wine. “Do you ever wonder what happened to Mara’s baby? He’d be a grown man now. Do you think he turned into a vampire?”
Edna shrugged. “I don’t know. What difference does it make?”
“None, I guess. But aren’t you the least bit curious to know if he survived?”
Edna stared at her friend. “What made you think of him after all this time?”
“I don’t know, dear. I was just sitting here reminiscing about the past, thinking about how drastically our lives have changed.”
Edna snorted. “Changed? That’s putting it mildly, don’t you think? If it hadn’t been for Rafe turning us, we’d both be long dead by now.”
“True.” Pearl sighed. “I’d be a hundred and six and you’d be . . .”
“Never mind! Age is a number, and mine is unlisted.”
Pearl shook her head. “You always were secretive about your age. I never understood why. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Maybe not, but saying it out loud . . .” Edna shook her head. “It just sounds so old. If I don’t say it, then I can pretend I’m still young.”
“Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing you can’t see your face in a mirror!”