Keepers of the Flame (Trilogy Bundle) - By Melissa F. Hart Page 0,36

in a tone that didn't brook disobedience. Sobbing, I crept back into the vault. I just knew that my life as I knew it had ended that day. But even in my wildest imagination, I could never have known how completely it had ended. By the time the people from the Protector HQ came over and found me in the vault, every one of my family was dead. Murdered by whoever had been in our house that day, demanding it.”

Silent sobs racked my body as I finished narrating the events of that terrible night. I still had nightmares about it, even though I'd tried so hard to forget.

***

I held the petite woman in my arms as she sobbed and felt my heart open even more to her. She was the other half of my soul and it pained me to see her hurting so much. Such tragedy should never have befallen such a young girl, but that was life and even vampires were not immune to it.

As I held her, I muttered comforting words and told her how much I loved her and how brave and strong she was. Half the time, I didn't even know what I was saying; I just felt this overwhelming need to ease her hurt. Finally she calmed down and I reached for the box of tissues on the bedside table and handed it to her. I pulled out a handful and, grabbing hold of the edge of her chin, I tipped her face upward and slowly wiped at the tears.

When I was done, she blinked and raised her tear spiked lashes, and I felt my chest tighten with emotion. She was so beautiful. Her gray eyes looked like the sky after a storm and I felt every part of me begin to melt. I leaned forward and took her lips in a gentle kiss, meant to give comfort. Her eyelashes went down as she shut her eyes. With a sigh, she wrapped her arms around me and opened her mouth, deepening the kiss.

I tasted the salt from her tears and felt her sadness. She shifted slightly and the nature of the kiss changed, becoming passionate. I drew her closer and slanted my mouth over hers so I could get better access. She teased me with her tongue before she caught hold of mine and sucked gently. I went from hot to red hot in an instant. I broke the kiss with a groan, knowing that if I didn't stop then, we would go further than we'd ever gone before.

Chapter Three

“Why did you stop?” She moaned, dropping tiny kisses on my neck.

“I was losing control, love.” I told her honestly.

She froze then, and hid her face in my neck. “I wanted you to lose control.” She whispered.

“Really?”

“Yeah.” She lifted her face and smiled impishly at me.

“Luanne Kylor, you will be the death of me.” I said jokingly, without much thought. Then I saw the horror-stricken look on her face and wanted to slap myself. “Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. That was incredibly insensitive of me.”

She shook her head. “No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be so sensitive, especially since I knew you were only joking.”

I cupped her face with one hand and dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

She smiled, “Not really.”

“What? How remiss of me. What could I have been thinking of? Oh yeah, I remember, I was thinking of your kisses.”

She laughed and kissed me then. “Okay, so feel free to tell me how much you love me. Come on, I'm waiting.”

“You know what, I've changed my mind.” I said with a sly smile.

“Oh yeah? Fine then, I won't tell you what I was thinking about just now while we were kissing. I'm sure you don't want to know, anyway.” She batted her eyelashes at me.

“You're one tough cookie.” I said with a groan.

“You better believe it!”

I laughed and hugged her to me. I loved the woman she was growing into. She had come a long way from the shy, sulky teenager I'd first met and I couldn't believe it was less than a year ago. Then again, I suppose almost being killed by one's grandfather could make a person grow up in a hurry.

I whispered in her ear how much I loved her and how lucky I felt to have her in my life. I told her she was the other half of my soul and I couldn't imagine my life without her in it.