The bullet hit him straight in the heart and it didn't faze him much. Then he put his hand over the wound and the bullet fell out."

"Ah, hell," Sorley said as he sat on the floor cross-legged. "This is not good."

"What if he's absorbing the evil from the dark shadows?" Micky asked out of the blue.

Ronan enlivened a bit, as if he hadn't thought of the possibility until now. "That wouldn't surprise me."

Clarissa decided to inject some good news for a change. "Micky and I heard the good shadows whispering to us in the graveyard tonight. They said they were there, as if they wanted to reassure Micky."

Micky glanced at Jared. "I wasn't reassured. I was still scared. None of us know who or what these good shadows are."

They continued discussions about what happened to Ronan in the tunnels. He finally turned to Clarissa. "I'm sorry about your camera. I know it was expensive."

She smiled. "You're right. But the camera isn't important right now."

His return smile held sensual warmth she felt right down to her toes.It's wonderful to see you.

Hearing his voice in her head took her off guard, but then she tried speaking to him in her mind.I'm so glad you're all right.

Thank you, sweet colleen.

A flush filled her cheeks and her eyes tried to tear up. He held her gaze, the intensity and heat in that stare tempered to a slow burn. Despite the others in the room, she responded to the message in his eyes.

Moments later Erin and Lachlan came downstairs. Erin smiled as she entered the living area. "We've got the room all set up. It's not large, but it's cozy. Clean linen and the works."

"Thank you." Ronan glanced at Clarissa. "I need to speak with Clarissa privately. Then we need to talk about what we can do to stop the ancient one."

"We'd better get back to the hotel. We'll let you know if we hear anything more about the fire," Jared said. "Just give us a call if you come up with anything else we can do in the meantime."

Erin hugged them both, and before they could leave, she said, "Please be careful."

After Jared and Micky left, Ronan reached for Clarissa's hand and encompassed it in the callused, warm embrace of his touch. "I need to see you. Alone."

Lachlan's expression was just short of conspiratorial. "Don't mind us. We'll be down here or in our room."

"If you need anything just let us know," Erin said.

Clarissa knew they'd taken her bags up to the attic, too. Everyone anticipated she would stay in the same room as Ronan and it made her want to scream a little. Assuming always made her angry. Still, as she walked up the narrow steps at the end of the hall with Ronan behind her, she felt as if they'd found an oasis where they could talk and she could understand more about this mysterious vampire.

Ronan opened the door. Despite the fact it was still daytime, the fan window high on one wall didn't illuminate the room much. Ronan flicked on the light switch and a warm glow came from a small Tiffany lamp on the bedside table.

To her surprise the little room seemed far nicer and cozier than she would have expected.

A tiny bathroom off to the west side of the room would be convenient. A queen-sized bed dominated the room, the headboard against the north wall and opposite the fan window across the room. Near the window two piles of boxes filled the corners. The room felt a little chilled, but it didn't bother her. Just the idea of being in this room alone with Ronan did enough to warm her clear through.

She closed the door and locked it. When Ronan heard metalsnick , he turned and stared at her, a knowing look in his flame-tinged eyes.

What are you thinking, Ronan?

He either couldn't hear her thoughts, or he decided to ignore them. Instead he walked back toward her. As he sauntered closer, she noticed the bruise on his forehead had diminished down to a light discoloration and he walked as if his ribs no longer hurt him.

"You do heal quickly," she said, awe in her voice.

"Believe it now? That I'm a vampire?"

She took a deep breath. "Oh, I believe it all right."

When he stood in front of her, he smiled gently, a flicker of emotion slicing through his eyes. Was that discomfort she saw? Uncertainty? In wonder she gazed back at him.

Tension simmered between them, and it felt equal parts tender, sexual and defiant. She resisted the wild desire tugging at her heart, demanding she surrender a part of her soul she'd never given another man. Fear surged inside, along with a last smidgen concern for her sanity. Surely no woman with half a brain would consider falling in love with a vampire.

No. Falling in love didn't describe what she felt for him. It was far more complicated than that. Perhaps for as long as she knew this man their encounters would be filled with both the sinful and the simple.

He touched her face with a quick, gentle sweep of his index finger, trailing from her cheek to her chin. A fiery tingle built in her belly, edged by a trepidation born of the unknown.

One corner of his sinful mouth turned up. "And now you need to know everything that's brought me to this point, don't you? My life up until I became a vampire and my life as an immortal. I can see it in your eyes."

"Yes. But I need something before you tell me your story."

"Anything."

With only the slightest hesitation, she reached up and plunged her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck. Her chest brushed against his, her lower body teasing his. Again, pure flame ignited his eyes. She'd have to be careful or this vampire would consume her before she could gather her wits.

She brought his head down and touched her lips to his, keeping the kiss gentle as she sampled him. He trembled and she knew right away his restraint hung in a balance. His lips parted only slightly, but he kissed her back. Ronan's chaste response surprised her a little. When she pulled away, a gentle, almost boy-like wonder remained in his eyes.

You never cease to amaze me, Ronan Kieran.

He smiled as she stepped back.Come sit on the bed with me. Better yet, lie with me. I promise I'll behave.

Amazed, she nevertheless sat on the edge of the bed. She pulled her boots off in record time and scooted up the quilted blue paisley comforter. After stripping his long coat off, he removed his boots and joined her on the bed.

They lay side by side, staring at the ceiling.

She spoke to him in her mind.Talk. You've got a lot of explaining to do.

He laughed. "So I'm not out of the doghouse, even if you did kiss me. By the way, what was that kiss for?"

She inhaled deeply, then exhaled. "Because I'm glad you're alive. Because I should never have let you go after that camera."

He reached across the small space separating them and took her hand in his. "Damn it, Clarissa, don't start blaming yourself. If anything, I was the idiot. I shouldn't have left you. I should have convinced you how important it is that we don't hold back with each other. We've got to make a decision on what we do next."

She swallowed hard. Despite the fact this man had touched her in many intimate ways, the idea of him actually taking her continued to scare her in a primitive manner she didn't understand. She chastised herself.ForGod's sake, you're not a virgin, Clarissa.

"You didn't respond to me like a virgin," he said.

"Even when you were using your mind games on me?"

"When did I do that?" His voice rose a little, offense creeping into his tone.

She licked her lips, her mouth so dry she could hardly say it. "In the graveyard the first night, and the time you described what...what I would feel when you were inside me."

He shrugged and released her hand. "You're right, but nothing else we've done together was false emotion or bogus physical attraction. In the elevator I didn't use any vampire influence on you at all." His voice went deeper and huskier. "You were ready to fuck me."