She shook her head. "No, that you'll leave me when..."

"When what, Em?"

"When you see me as he did."

"I'm not sure that's possible. He was more of a monster than I could ever be." His voice was soft and reassuring.

"He made me do things." She hid her face against his chest.

"Yes, I would imagine he did. Can I tell you something about Keith?"

She nodded.

"He was controlling your every move. The more he could knock you down, the more control he had."

She didn't move in his arms.

"You've come a long way out of that control since he died, and... he is dead. He wasn't sure enough of himself to know you would stay with him, unless he made you feel undesirable."

Emily relaxed against him.

"As for coming after me... I wish he was alive and did come after me," he said, and then grinned maliciously.

She frowned up at him. "Why?"

"I'd like to kill him again, slower this time. He got off easily because I was angry, and he didn't feel enough pain." She felt the strain in his voice, and his arms tightened.

Emily actually laughed a little, and Chevalier kissed her forehead.

"That's enough about Keith. What about the other dreams where you scream for me to run?" He watched her, but she didn't tense this time.

"It's dark in those ones, and there are trees." She frowned. "There are voices, and they are going to get you. I can't catch up to you to make you run."

Chevalier smiled softly. "Why are you always trying to protect me in your dreams? I thought I was supposed to be protecting you."

She shrugged, not finding it as funny as he did.

"Maybe." He thought for a moment. "Getting the dreams out in the open will make them go away."

Emily shrugged again.

Chevalier brushed his lips across hers. "We'll talk more later. We have plenty of time. There's something out in the water you'll want to see. I'll stay here."

Emily hesitated and then stood up and pulled on a soft robe that hung by the bed. She shielded her eyes against the glare of the sun on the water and peered over the side of the boat. She smiled widely when she saw humpback whales less than 10 feet away.

She leaned on the railing and watched until they disappeared into the horizon. The water was so blue that she could see fish below the boat also, and it wasn't until dusk that she moved back below. Chevalier was just pulling open a cupboard to reveal a large TV, DVD player, and a few hundred movies.

"I thought we'd watch a movie, if you'd like," he said, smiling up at her.

"Sounds great! Let's see what we have." She sat down and started thumbing through the movies.

Emily giggled and held up Interview with a Vampire for Chevalier.

"We aren't watching that, are we?" he asked, cringing.

"No, I've already made Kyle sit through it, and he was thoroughly offended. I assure you." She slipped the movie back into the slot.

"I bet he was. I'm starting to think Kyle really does need a raise." He watched Emily on the floor. He couldn't get enough of her, how she moved, how she talked, and the way she flinched in her sleep.

"Oooh, can we watch a horror movie?" She sounded excited.

Chevalier laughed. "Isn't your life a horror movie? You live on an island full of history's vampires."

Emily pulled out the movie, put it into the DVD player, and then disappeared into the bathroom. She emerged, blushing, wearing a sheer black babydoll nightgown. "Margaret strikes again."

Chevalier's eyes took her in as she came to sit by him. "I think she is reliving her youth through you... with my approval, of course."

Emily pulled a blanket over her shoulders and curled up against Chevalier's side to watch the movie. He thought it was utterly stupid. How could people be so afraid of a clown? He did like the way Emily pulled closer to him when the clown appeared, so he didn't complain.

Chevalier wasn't sure exactly when she fell asleep. He just noticed she suddenly quit jumping when things on the TV got tense. He gently carried her to bed and curled up next to her, watching the movement of her face as she slept.

Emily woke to the smell of bacon, and she smiled. "Smells good."

"I hope so."

He loaded up a plate and set the tray on her lap when she sat up.

"Oooh, breakfast in bed even." She smiled and started to eat. "Wow, this is really good."

"One of my many talents."

Emily thought for a second, and then decided to ask, "When do you eat?"

"When I'm thirsty."

"That sounds like avoidance. I thought we were being open." She stabbed an egg and ate it.

"Fair enough. I eat about once every two or three weeks is all. We don't need to eat as often as you do." He pulled her foot out from under the covers and began to massage it.

"What do you eat?"

He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

She smiled. "I mean who? Where do you get the blood?"

"I have voluntary donors."

"Women?" She took a bite of bacon and avoided his eyes.

"Mostly, yes." He knew where this was going.

"Do you sleep with them?"

"Not anymore."

She stared down at her plate, no longer hungry.

"Emily?" He wanted to see her eyes.

Emily shrugged and pushed the food around the plate with her fork.

"I'm not going to lie and say I never used to sleep with the women I fed from, but I promise you, I haven't since we went to Colorado."

"It still seems so intimate." She didn't look up.

"It can be, but not anymore. Now they are simply nourishment."

She grimaced.

Chevalier sighed. There really was no way to lessen the blow for this. "When I used to find a donor attractive, I always went for the neck, so I could be closer to her."

She inhaled sharply and turned away from him.

"Now though, I only use their wrists. You are the only one I want, Em, the only one I can see anymore." He took her hand and kissed it softly.

She swallowed dryly. "Did you ever turn one... one that you liked?"

He shook his head. "No, I haven't turned anyone in decades for myself, and then it was only if I saw something in them that would benefit the coven. It's not something we as heku take lightly."

"Just feed from me then. You won't have to have donors." He saw the brief wince before she looked over at him.

"No, I won't regularly feed from you."

"Why?"

"For one, I love you too much." He stroked her cheek lightly. "For the other, it's too dangerous. Your blood is so amazingly succulent that I find it harder and harder to stop. I won't risk draining you."

She winced visibly at that.

"Don't worry about my feeding, Em. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you." He reached down and kissed her. "It's just part of who I am."

Though not hungry, Emily finished her breakfast in silence. When she was done, she got up and cleaned the kitchen while Chevalier watched her.

The following week was a lot less stressful. They spent their days talking about nothing important and their nights together. Emily's nightmares seemed less frequent out on the water, and she felt better than she had in a long time, well rested and content. Chevalier was also pleased that Emily was becoming more comfortable around him and wasn't hiding her body as much as before.

From his perch at the helm, Chevalier could see Emily down on the deck. She was lying face down on a deck chair, topless, and her skin was bronzing with all of the time in the sun. He slipped on his sunglasses and jacket and went down to join her.

Her skin tingled as he ran his fingers lightly down her spine.

She turned her face to him. "Done playing Captain?"

He nodded. "For now. Are you about ready to go back?"

Emily sighed. "Do we have to?"

Chevalier laughed. "No."

"Yeah... I guess it is time to head back. I'm sure Kyle will appreciate help with my animals."

"It'll take us a few days to get back, so there's no rush," Chevalier said, and inhaled deeply.

She glanced up at him. "Are you smelling me again? It's making me self-conscious."

"It's so incredible, Em. I think the time on the boat has made it stronger, and lately, there's a change. Maybe all of that vitamin D."

Emily stifled a giggle.

"What?" He couldn't help but smile at her.

"Nothing"

"Tell me what's so funny."

This time, Emily laughed for a bit before she was able to talk. "I was thinking that you have about as much control as that moody Arabian when my poor Patra is in heat."

"You're comparing me to a horse?"

"Yes, I am. He doesn't even notice her normally, and then he'll start sniffing around, and the next thing I know, he's fighting to get out of his stall."

"Well, if she smells this good, I can't blame him," Chevalier said as he flipped Emily over in her deck chair and kissed her passionately.

Chapter 15.

Chevalier pulled the yacht up to the pier, and the guards immediately tied the boat to the dock.

"Welcome back, sir," Travis said as he slid the plank up, so they could get off.

"It's good to be back, Travis. Head in with us, will you? I'd like a full report." Chevalier stepped off first and extended a hand to help Emily.