Enchant the Night - Amanda Ashley Page 0,31

should get some sleep.”

“Since you’re here, why don’t you spend the night? In the guest room,” she added.

“You’re sure you don’t mind?” The wards he’d erected the last time he had stayed here were still in place. It should be safe enough.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I did.”

“Then I accept your offer, love. Thank you.”

“Good night, then. Just make yourself at home.”

Nodding, he watched her leave the room, heard the sound of her bedroom door close, the rustle of sheets as she got into bed.

For a moment, he stood there, wishing he had the right to slide in beside her, take her in his arms, and make love to her all through the night.

Sighing, he waved a hand to turn off the lights, then made his way to the guest room’s lonely bed.

One of these days, he thought. One of these days, he would make her his.

Chapter 12

A harsh cry roused Quill from the Dark Sleep. All his senses alert, he threw back the covers and ran down the hall to Callie’s bedroom. A second scream and he pushed the door open, ready to do battle, only to see her thrashing on the mattress as she fought off a terror only she could see.

Placing one hand on her shoulder, he whispered, “Callie. Callie, wake up.”

Shouting, “Let me go!” she lashed out, her nails raking his cheek hard enough to draw blood.

“Callie! Wake up.”

She woke with a start, her gaze darting right and left. “Quill?”

“It’s me.” A flick of his hand turned on the light beside her bed.

“You’re bleeding! Did I do that?”

Plucking a couple of tissues from the box on the nightstand, he wiped the blood from his cheek and her fingertips. “You were having a nightmare and I got in the way,” he said with a lopsided grin. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Callie blew out a shaky breath as she sat up. “I was a little girl again, watching my grandmother dance under a full moon. Her friends were with her. One by one, they transformed into monsters. Betty turned into a ravening werewolf. Hilda became a hideous troll. Maxine’s body shifted into a zombie, and they all turned on me, growling and hissing as they came toward me. And then my grandmother changed into . . .”

“Into what?”

“A vampire with glowing red eyes. She killed them all and then she was looking at me, her . . . her fangs dripping with blood.”

“That was some hellacious nightmare.”

“There’s more.” Callie clutched the blankets to her chest. “Another vampire materialized from out of nowhere and they fell to the ground and made love in the middle of all the dead bodies and . . .” She drew a deep, shuddering breath.

Quill knew a sudden sense of foreboding as he waited for her to go on.

“You were the other vampire.”

“It was just a dream,” he said. “I can assure you that I never made love to your grandmother surrounded by a bunch of dead monsters.”

“Logically, I know that,” Callie said. “I mean, how could you? But it was so horrible. So real! Why would I even dream of something so bizarre?”

“It’s not too surprising. You’re hanging out with a vampire who sleeps down the hall from time to time. And since I exist, your subconscious must have decided there might be other monsters in the world besides me.”

“I guess that’s as good an explanation as any.” She yawned behind her hand. “And you’re not a monster.”

Not bothering to argue, he bent down and kissed her cheek. It was soft and smooth, and his lips naturally gravitated to hers. He had meant only to give her a brief good-night kiss, but it quickly turned into something deeper and more meaningful. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gathered her into his arms and kissed her again as his hand slid under her sleep shirt to explore the warm, smooth skin beneath.

Callie moaned softly as his tongue danced with hers, sending frissons of heat spiraling through her. Thinking turnabout was fair play, she ran her hand over his chest. His skin was cool, his stomach ridged with muscle. Her fingertips traced the scars on his chest and belly.

Desire turned to trepidation when he lowered her onto the bed, his body covering hers. “Quill. Quill, stop!”

He lifted his head, his eyes hot with desire.

She hadn’t been this afraid of him since the night he bit her for the first time. But she was afraid now.

Afraid he wouldn’t stop.

Afraid he would.

He drew