room, and there was no escape. He was standing in front of the door. "I didn't see you. I'm really sorry."
He was wearing another tight long-sleeved shirt, so as his hands curled into fists, the flexing of his arms and then his shoulders was obvious. He was big to begin with, but the power in his body made him seem huge.
His lids opened. When those black eyes touched her face, she cringed.
Cold. So very cold.
"Christ, I know I'm ugly," he snapped. "But don't fear me. I'm not a total savage."
Then he grabbed something and left.
Beth sagged against the jars and cans, looking up at the empty space he'd left on the shelf. Chutney. He'd taken chutney.
"Beth, did you find - " Wellsie stopped short in the doorway. "What happened?"
"Nothing. It was... nothing."
Wellsie gave her a level stare while adjusting the apron over her blue dress. "You're lying to me, but it's your mating day, so I'll let you get away with it." She located the jam and took down some jars. "Hey, why don't you go to your father's room and have a lie-down? Rhage has finished, so you can take a deep breath down there. You need to pamper yourself a little before you're mated."
"You know, I think that's a good idea."
Butch leaned back in the wicker rocker, crossing his legs and pushing at the floor with one foot. The chair made a creaking sound.
In the distance, heat lightning flashed. The night smelled of the garden down below.
And of the sea.
Across the shallow porch, Marissa tilted her head back to scan the sky. A slight summer breeze touched the tendrils of hair around her face.
He decided he could look at her for a lifetime and not get enough.
"Butch?"
"Sorry. What was that?"
"I said, you look quite beautiful in that suit."
"This old thing? I just threw it on."
She laughed, exactly as he'd meant her to, but as the sound tingled his ears, he grew serious.
"You're the beautiful one."
Her hand went up to her neck. She didn't seem to know how to handle compliments, as though she hadn't gotten many of them.
He found that so hard to believe.
"I did my hair for you," she said. "I thought maybe you would like it this way."
"I like it any way. All ways."
She smiled. "I chose this dress for you, too."
"I like it. But you know something, Marissa? You don't have to try with me."
Her eyes dipped down. "I'm used to trying."
"So get unused to it. You're perfect."
She beamed. Absolutely beamed. And all he could do was stare.
The breeze picked up a little, sweeping her chiffon skirting around the graceful curve of her hips. And suddenly he wasn't just thinking about how lovely she was.
Butch nearly laughed. He'd never considered lust the kind of thing that could ruin a moment, but his body's needs were something he wouldn't mind shelving for the night. Or even longer. He really wanted to treat her right. She was a woman worthy of being worshiped and held and made happy.
Butch frowned. Yeah, and just how would he be able to do that? The happy part, that was. He was confident he had the worshiping and the holding down pat.
It was just... a virgin vampire was a category of female he knew absolutely nothing about.
"Marissa, you know I'm not one of your kind, don't you?"
She nodded. "From the moment I first saw you."
"And that doesn't" - turn you off? - "bother you?"
"No. I like the way I feel around you."
"And how's that?" he asked, getting quiet.
"I feel safe. I feel pretty." She paused and eyed his lips. "And sometimes other things."
"Like what?" In spite of his good intentions, he really wanted to hear about the other things.
"I get hot. Especially here" - she touched her breasts- - "and here." Her hands brushed over the juncture between her thighs.
Butch saw double, his heart kicked so hard. As he blew out a lungful of hot air, he was sure his head was going to explode.
"Do you feel anything?" she asked.
"You better believe it."
His voice sounded Scotch-raw. Which is what desperation will do to a guy.
Marissa crossed the porch, coming toward him. I would kiss you now. If you wouldn't mind."
Wouldn't mind? He was willing to beg just to keep looking at her.
He uncrossed his legs and sat up, thinking that the fact someone could walk in on them at any time would help keep him in check. He was about to get to his feet when she knelt in front of him.
And