tricks, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "He needs the rest." Moving up beside her, Dominic lifted her to her feet. "And I wanted to be alone with you for a little while."
All thought ofBryan fled her mind when she saw the look smoldering in Dominic's eyes.
Slowly, so there could be no mistaking his intent, he lowered his head and claimed her lips with his. She leaned into him, her eyelids fluttering down as his mouth covered hers. His tongue teased her lips. His hands skimmed over her back, cupped her buttocks to draw her body closer to his until they stood heat to heat, mouths and bodies fused together.
Somehow, they were in her room, stretched out on the bed. She was melting, her body aching with need, yearning for something only he could give her.
"Dominic..." She moaned his name.
Groaning softly, he drew away from her and sat up.
She put her hand on his arm. "What's wrong?"
He shook his head, but did not look at her.
"Dominic?"
Hestood, his back to her. "I need to go."
"Go?" She sat up."Where? Why?"
"You are far too tempting in far too many ways."
"And that's bad?"
His hands clenched at his sides."Right now, yes. It is difficult to separate my desire from my need. I do not trust myself to satisfy one without the other."
"But..."
"And I must feed."
Before she could say anything else, he was gone.
"Dominic! Dominic, wait!"
But she was talking to the air.
Pounding her fist against the pillow, she rose and went downstairs. Stalking into the kitchen, she opened the fridge and poured herself a glass of ice water, but it didn't help. She doubted if even standing under a shower of ice water would cool her off now. Her whole body burned for his touch. How could he leave her like that?
Putting the glass in the sink, she cleared away the meal no one had eaten, put the dishes in the dishwasher, washed the pans,then went into the living room.Bryan was asleep on the sofa. Sitting in one of the chairs, she studied him while he slept. Once he had been her son.
"Mama, look at me!"
How often had Jacob called to her, wanting her to watch him? He was her only child and she loved him beyond words. He was a clever boy, always eager to learn, anxious for her approval. She had watched him grow from boyhood to manhood, proud of his accomplishments. In spite of his own grief when his father died, Jacob had tried to comfort her, though it had been Dominic in whose arms she had poured out her grief. And when the South went to war, Jacob had been eager to go, eager to fight the Yankees. She had begged him to stay home, pleading that she neededhim, that she could not run the farm without his help, but he would not be deterred...
And now he was in her life again, this time as a friend. And she felt responsible for him again. And, once again, his life was in danger. And, this time, perhaps his soul.
Going to the window, she drew back the curtains and stared out into the night. A full yellow moon shone down on the ocean, painting the tips of the waves with gold and casting long, golden shadows on the face of the water.
Standing there, she felt a sudden uneasiness. Dropping the curtains back into place, she went through the house, making sure all the doors and windows were closed and locked even though Dominic had told her vampires could not enter a dwelling uninvited.
Going upstairs, she slipped into her smock, put a new canvas on one of the easels, mixed her colors, and began to paint.
Slowly, the image on the canvas took form. It was a young man with dark blond hair and brown eyes.A man wearing the proud gray uniform of a Confederate soldier. A house with four white columns rose to his left. Fields planted in cotton could be seen stretching away on his right. There was a woman in the painting, too. She stood on the porch, one hand pressed to her heart, a bittersweet smile on her lips. A tear glistened in her eye.
Taking a step back,Tracy stared at the painting of Jacob and Libby and felt again her anguish as she bid her son farewell for the last time.
"It is a powerful piece."
Warmth flooded her being at the sound of his voice. Contentment washed through her as he came up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist.
She leaned against him, reveling