His fingers brushed over her jaw, so light she almost didn't feel them, right over the spot where the pirate had smacked her. "There's no damage. If he had hurt you severely he would be dead now."

In the primitive part of her mind, she liked his possessiveness and the assurance that he would kill to keep her safe.

A gentle kiss touched the side of her head, a mere brush of hot lips over skin.

"Please," she said softly, not understanding what she wanted.

A seductive groan drifted from his lips, like a man in the throws of the deepest erotic need. "I would like to please you."

Please me? OhGod.

When had a man ever said this to her before?

As his lips touched her cheek, he whispered words. "I could give you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. Here. Now."

She shivered, not from fear but from new, dangerous feelings. "I don't understand what's happening to me."

Feel your true needs. Feel the way we could be together.His husky voice poured into her, lulling her into an indolence she didn't resist. Couldn't resist. He didn't speak, yet she heard him again in her mind.You would know ecstasy.

Primitive needs intruded. Clarissa's prickled with hypersensitivity and with every hot breath on her skin, wild vibrations shivered over her. Alarm couldn't penetrate.

Nor the will to escape.

The dark stranger's left palm flattened over her belly and heat and heaviness breached deep inside her. A burning craving built in her loins with staggering quickness. She gasped.

With a flick of his wrist he opened all the buttons on her coat. Her sweater buffeted the cold, but when he pressed against her ribs in exploration, she felt his touch straight through. For one sane second she struggled against unbidden sensation. A tiny moan escaped. His lips brushed her cheek, and her nipples peaked against the thin confines of her bra.

She couldn't move, didn't want to move.

Her mind whirled, two parts separated from the whole. So what if this dangerous, handsome man took her right here? Brought her down to the snow-covered ground, ravished her among headstones and made her body feel things she'd never imagined.

Forbidden needs roared up from some place primal. Instincts long restrained broke free.

She wanted him.

His hands drifted up her ribcage until he cupped her breasts. Light, not hurtful, his touch made her squirm. Her nipples tightened at the hot, heavy feeling of his palms. He didn't squeeze, he didn't caress, but kept her captive by mere touch.

Then erotic visions filled her head.

Lying naked on a soft bed draped in a canopy of pink and white tulle, she watched as Ronan stood near in his black clothes, his longleather jacket still on him. He looked down on her, a gentle smile touching his mouth. As he admired her, Clarissa's skin felt hot. She knew he intended to torture her with nibbles and licks, and the exquisite suckling of his mouth.

The image disappeared from her mind.

A whimper broke from her. "What's happening to me?"

She should have been terrified, but Clarissa couldn't form a coherent panic. Swallowing hard, she brought her hands up and clasped the big hands holding her breasts.

"Breathe deeply." His voice dropped, softer and reassuring. "Take me within you."

She couldn't resist, and at his command she inhaled. Spicy, musk-filled, and heady with sensual promise, his scent wiped away the cold and their location. All she wanted or needed would be provided. Every rapture could become hers. How she knew this she couldn't say.

He allowed his touch to drift and her hands followed his movement. He cupped under her breast, the other hand drifted low until it rested above her pubic mound. An ache migrated from her belly to between her legs. Moist heat dampened her, and her nipples tightened into even harder points.

His words rumbled in her ear. "Do you see now? Do you understand how defenseless you are? I can do what I want with you, where I want. You have no defense against me."

"You wouldn't hurt me."

"No, sweet lady, I would not. But there are creatures you don't understand wandering this place. They would not hesitate to harm you. Now, promise me. Leave this place and don't return."

Anger managed to leak through. She groaned and fought against the hold Ronan had on her mind. "Let me go."

"All you need to do is ask."

Instantly he released her and she snapped into sharp focus. All fog left her mind and she whirled around to face him. She stepped back until she bumped into a headstone. Her camera case lay in the snow several feet away. When had she dropped it again?

Using the hard surface as a prop, she stared at him with renewed apprehension holding her captive. His dark eyes again burned with that unholy fire. His nostrils flared, his breathing quick as his broad chest rose and fell. She gazed at the front of his jeans and only one thought penetrated. One exhilarating realization she savored despite the bizarre circumstances.

The impossibly gorgeous man in front of her possessed a serious hard-on. Her mouth popped open in surprise. No doubt about it, he had the look of a man filled with desire. A man badly in need of her as his cock pressed against his jeans, full and long.

What came out of her mouth denied the inconceivable sexual interlude. "What the hell just happened?What are you?"

For this man wasn't ordinary. The strange mental pictures told her that.

But had she seen his previous incarnations? Did he know about them?

He put his hands on his hips, and she remembered the sensation of his touch on her body.

Ronan's hands had been warm despite the winter in the air.

When he didn't answer her query, she managed to command her muscles in to action.

Mixed feelings challenged her to discover more about him. At the same time, she knew he wouldn't tell her anything. The man had secrets miles deep, and he wouldn't give up answers without a fight.

How she knew this she couldn't say, but the certainty frightened her. But no more than wondering if everything she'd experienced really occurred. Had she lost her mind? Or didPineForest's usual brand of supernatural insanity cause this hallucination?

Without another word she retrieved her camera bag. She wrestled her car keys from a side pocket on the bag and walked toward her old red Acura, moving as fast as icy snow would allow. She didn't look back, though she could feel his heavy stare boring into her with every step she made.

After Clarissa left his arms and the graveyard, Ronan tried to control the raging, wild temptations surging through his system. He gritted his teeth as deep shivers ran up and down his tortured body. He turned and leaned against a crypt, palms flat against the stone. As he drew in ragged breaths, his undead heart pounded out his need. He closed his eyes as pain darted through his groin.

You almost had her, old man. Sure, and her blood would have tasted beyond sweet. Like the darkest honey, she would have flowed down your throat with sizzling fire and sexual ecstasy.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

But no. He'd given up tasting human blood that way a long time ago. His body wanted hers, wanted her spread out under him as he inserted his cock deep into her wet, welcoming body.

His fingers clutched at the hard stone under his fingers. When he'd seen the pirate wannabe assaulting Clarissa, red-hot rage had made his gut burn. He could have killed the cretin with one well-placed twist of his fingers. But then he would have been no better than the creep who tried to mug her.

He straightened, taking more deep breaths to control his bloodlust and heady craving.

Anger and desire.