With unbearable slowness he withdrew, then arrowed deep. Wedging his thighs against the back of hers, he kept his movements short and rhythmic. He clenched her hips between his palms, anchoring her. Each rub of his cock caressed sensitive, exquisitely aroused tissues. The back and forth friction opened her wider, deeper as she absorbed his thrusts.

Sensation spilled over and reduced her to a mindless drive toward completion. On the edge of consciousness, she heard their primal sounds, the gasp for breath and small moans of pleasure that fired her need. Her heart pounded a new, relentless beat in time with his cadence. Eagerly she spread her legs as far as the clothing around her knees would allow. Merciless, he took the hint and stepped up the pace. Stroking now with sharp digs, he thrust hard and sure.

Her skin flushed, heated, her breath panting between parted lips. She couldn't stand the pleasure; her cunt clenched his body as his thrusts now pounded inside her slickness.

Beyond speech or thought, she allowed her body to fly free.

Climax hit her hard as it rose up and stung her clit, then burst with staggering intensity in jolts of bliss. She quivered and shook as the orgasm rocked her core.

He gave one last, stabbing thrust. His cock swelled and he gasped out, "God, how I love you!"

He burst inside her and moaned low in his throat. His revelation made her shake as another climax ripped through her in small, unbelievably delicious shivers.

Tears filled her eyes and she sobbed with happiness. Immediately he slipped from her body and pulled up her panties and jeans. He rearranged his clothing. Turning her around, he kept his body against hers.

He cupped her face and his intense, worried gaze held a fiery copper. "Are you all right?

Did I hurt you?"

She smiled through her tears. "I'm wonderful. Did I hear you say you loved me?"

Clarissa never thought she'd see a bashful smile on his hard face, but this time he grinned and it came across almost embarrassed. "Sure and I suppose you want to hear it again?"

"Oh yes," she said, a little breathless.

He kissed her deeply, his tongue wrapping and twining with hers in a dance seductive and loving. When he came up for air he confessed, "I love you so much I ache. I never thought I could feel like this again. Please tell me you feel the same way about me?"

He looked a little boyish and uncertain, an expression she never expected to see on his face. With a tender melting in her heart, she slipped her arms around his waist and smiled. "I love you. I love you so much."

Pressing his forehead to hers, he closed his eyes. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that."

"Then let me tell you again. I love you. You were wonderful. I thought I was going to split into a million pieces."

Low, sinful laughter filled her ears. "It's colder then a well digger's arse out here. Let's go inside where I can love you properly."

Yes, that sounds so good.

They finished fixing their clothes. Inside the house Lachlan and Erin sat close together on the couch, their arms tightly around each other as if they, too, felt the heat. They loosened their embrace, but Clarissa could see the adoration and need thrumming between the other couple. When they learned she wasn't pregnant, disappointment entered their eyes. Lachlan and Erin knew how important this had become. Micky and Jared walked in a few moments later through the utility room with their luggage. When they heard the news, resignation passed over their features.

"There must be something else we can do." Desperation tinged Micky's voice and she blushed. "We can't expect Ronan and Clarissa to just..."

Lachlan shrugged. "Aye, we'll start thinking of an alternate plan." His gaze flicked to Clarissa and Ronan. "Just in case."

The radio blasted a new report about the sporadic crime around the small city.

"I hate to ask what it's like out there," Erin said to Micky.

Jared nodded. "It's dicey. It makes me think that with this upsurge in crime the Halloween party might be cancelled anyway."

"Don't count on it," Erin said with sarcasm. "I'm not sure the people around here get it.

Even if crime has gone up, it's likely the mayor is going to think the reason is something entirely different."

"Like?" Micky slumped onto the loveseat with a sign.

Erin leaned forward. "Devil worship. He's not exactly one of the most enlightened people in town. He doesn't understand the true origins of Halloween."

Clarissa felt an inherent discomfort with people like the mayor who stayed deliberately ignorant of the truth. "One ofthose people."

"Yes." Erin clasped her hands.

"Why would he allow a party if he thinks Halloween is devil worship?" Micky asked.

"Because he understands that most other people don't think of Halloween that way,"

Lachlan said.

Ronan's voice was out low and derisive as he said, "Political book."

Jared settled down next to Micky. "What if we could convince him that something evil was about to happen at the party?"

"How?" Erin asked.

The cop ran his hand through his hair and smiled ruefully. "Beats the shit out of me."

Lachlan laughed softly. "Thanks. You're a lot of help."

Jared tossed his friend a chagrinned expression.

"We can't worry about the mayor," Ronan said. "We can't rely on anyone but ourselves.

I know you all feel like were riding this wave by our arses. The ancient one and this darkest evil will find us, one way or the other. We can meditate on what could happen tomorrow. Maybe one of us will have an inspiration."

"What about Sorley?" Micky asked. "Do you think he's beyond help?"

Clarissa saw the hurt on Ronan's face as his finely carved lips twitched in reaction.

When she'd first met him she'd thought of Ronan as cool and yet hot, a man with two emotional switches. Now she'd witnessed more of his depths, it made her feelings for him grow in turn.

"No. But I don't know what we can do at this point. Maybe he'll come back on his own, and maybe he won't. We can't go after him. It could be that's just what the ancient one wants. We may have won two battles against that bastard but the war isn't over. We can't afford to let our guard down one minute." Ronan drew a hefty breath before continuing. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I've got to have some vampire beauty sleep."

Lachlan grinned. "A bit knackered, eh?"

"A bit what?" Jared asked with a puzzled frown.

Ronan looked down at Clarissa and winked. "Tired. And tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day."

Clarissa felt heat fill her face. Who needed the devil when Ronan Kieran could make saucy jokes in front of all their friends?

She didn't get a chance to retort. Lachlan said, "We'll brainstorm while you rest.

Something will come to us."

Ronan tightened his arm around Clarissa's waist and led her away. As they ascended the stairs, Clarissa knew they had one last chance.