a very long time, made love to countless women, but he had never met one he wanted to spend a lifetime with. Until now. Looking at Callie, he found himself wondering for the first time what it would be like to settle down in one place, with one woman.
Chapter 5
Callie shivered under the intensity of Quill’s scrutiny, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it. What if he wanted her to bear his child? Lordy, the very thought stole her breath away. He was tall and dark and dangerous, his eyes hot as his gaze moved over her, lingering on her throat, her breasts, her hips.
She glanced at the door, wondering if she could outrun him, and even as the thought crossed her mind, the door closed, seemingly of its own accord. Feeling like a mouse trapped by a mountain lion, her hands gripped the arms of her chair.
“Ah, Callie,” he murmured. “I do want something from you. Not what you’re thinking,” he assured her, amusement evident in the depths of his eyes.
“What am I thinking?”
“You’re wondering how many children I’ve sired, and if I’ve chosen you to be the mother of the next one.”
Callie pressed her hands to her heated cheeks as she blushed from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head. How could he possibly know that?
“To answer your question, I’ve never fathered a child. But make no mistake, I would love to have one with you.”
Callie swallowed hard, felt her heart skip a beat at the thought of being in his arms, in his bed, of giving birth to a vampire baby. She shook her head imperceptibly. This couldn’t be happening.
He pushed off the edge of the mattress to tower over her. “Put your mind at ease, sweet Callie. All I want is a hot bath and a change of clothes.”
Relief swept through her, leaving her feeling totally drained. “A . . . a bath?”
He glanced down at his blood-stained shirt and trousers. “Don’t you think I need one?”
Nodding, she sprang to her feet. “I’ll fill the tub right now,” she said, eager to put some distance between them.
“I don’t suppose you’d want to wash my back?”
A fresh wave of heat climbed up her neck and flooded her cheeks. Uttering a wordless cry, she flung open the door and made her escape. The deep, throaty sound of his laughter followed her down the hall.
Quill stared after her, his expression thoughtful. What would it be like, to make a baby with Callie? To hold her beautiful, slim body close to his and plant his seed within her? To taste and tease those sweet lips all night long, run his hands through the golden silk of her hair and over her soft, smooth flesh, to bury himself deep inside her sweetness and never let her go?
* * *
Callie paced the living room floor, trying not to imagine Quill lying naked in her bathtub. Wash his back indeed! How dare he even suggest such a thing! It was . . . was . . . She blew out a sigh as she admitted that a small part of her found the idea very tempting.
What was wrong with her? The man was a vampire, for goodness’ sake. Why wasn’t she more afraid of him? Why was she still here? She could have run away any time in the last three days while he’d been recovering. So why hadn’t she?
She paused as an unwanted thought crept into her mind. Was he using some kind of vampire hypnosis to keep her here against her will? Was that why she wasn’t afraid of him? And if he was exerting some kind of supernatural influence on her, how was she to know? But he couldn’t be keeping her here, she thought, not when she’d gone out to the mall that very day.
Needing some fresh air, she walked out the front door and stood on the porch. The night was cool and clear, the air fragrant with the scent of her neighbor’s night-blooming jasmine. Feeling suddenly carefree, Callie walked down the stairs to the end of the narrow path that led to the sidewalk.
Turning left, she continued on her way. If she decided not to go back home, she could always spend a few days with Vivian. Except she’d have to go back home to get her purse and a change of clothes. And her car. And her phone.