Before she had a chance to say anything, a fearful look crossed his face and he immediately lifted his hands, stepping away from her. When she returned her gaze to Duncan, the deadly look on his face, the sheer possession, made her stomach clench in excitement.

Rose began to dance once more, gliding her hands down her breasts to her waist and hips as she gave Duncan a sexy come-hither smile.

When Duncan reached her, he slid his hand across her hip as he turned and moved behind her. Rose let him pull her hips back against his. She welcomed his hard-bodied warmth, her heart rate elevating.

Lowering her arms around his neck, she pulled him close. Duncan kissed the side of her throat at the same time his hips matched her grinding, seductive movements, beat for beat.

When the music segued into the slower, body-rocking seduction of "Candy Shop" by 50 Cent, Duncan turned her in his arms and pulled her flush against his body.

Rose reveled in the sensation of Duncan's hard thigh sliding between hers. He cupped her rear, molding her to him like they were two halves of a perfect puzzle. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her heart rate increased even more when she felt his erection rub against her hip.

As if he knew the song's suggestive lyrics affected her, Duncan whispered them in her ear at the same time he took one of her hands and cupped it over his erection.

Rose left her hand where Duncan placed it while he slid his hand under her hair, rubbing the back of her neck. He traced his thumb along her jaw, turning her head until she met his intense gaze.

Don't torture me tonight, Roisin.

Chapter Thirteen

She whispered back, My room's unoccupied at the moment.

Duncan immediately stopped dancing and grasped her hand. Dragging Rose through the crowd and up the steps from the dance floor, he didn't slow his determined stride as he made his way to the entrance. They left the club to the sound of an alternative song starting up.

Rose couldn't help but laugh at Duncan's stoic demeanor. He didn't speak at all as his fingers threaded with hers, locking hard on her hand before he took off down the street.

Her heart felt both light and full at the same time while she walked beside him at a brisk pace. When they reached Lonan's Pub, the music session was still going on. Rose jerked on Duncan's hand as he started to walk through the crowd. "Don't you want to stay and listen for a bit?"

Another time, he spoke in her mind without breaking his stride. He wove through the crowd toward the back of the pub, his determined pace never wavering.

Rose followed-or was tugged along, rather. She waved to Nigel who was handing two pints of Guinness to customers standing at the bar. The smile on his face thrilled her. She'd never seen her uncle look so happy. How will he feel when he finds out Siobhan is a much older woman with fangs to boot? she thought while Duncan made his way down the hall.

Rose didn't have time to ponder on the subject because Duncan had reached her room and held out his hand.

Handing him her key, her heart raced in anticipation.

Duncan unlocked her room and tugged her inside, shutting the door behind her.

Tossing the key on a side table, he lifted her locket and rubbed his finger across the Celtic trinity knot. Then he let the charm go and met her gaze, his shoulders tense. "No matter what happens tomorrow, no matter what new things you learn from the Saoi, nothing will change what's between us, Roisin. Understand?"

Rose realized Duncan was truly concerned.

Lifting the bottom edges of his sweater, she nodded to let him know she understood.

Duncan pulled his sweater off and dropped it on the floor. His gaze, full of dark hunger, landed on her nipples jutting against her cardigan. Then she felt her buttons begin to give way.

Rose's breathing increased as the material slowly opened. Now that she was aware of her psychic powers, she recognized the energy zinging between them for what it was...a natural give and take.

When the buttons were all undone and the material separated but still covered her breasts, Duncan reached up and touched her shoulders. His warm fingers slid the soft cotton sweater down her arms until it fell to the floor at her feet.

His burning gaze dropped to her nipples as he brushed his fingers across a hard tip. The gentle caress of skin against skin made her stomach tighten. Then he slowly lowered his hand to the button on her jeans. Gripping the material in a tight fist, Duncan yanked her body close.

Rose's heart rate skyrocketed. She was surprised and so incredibly turned on by Duncan's mercurial, scarcely controlled mood.

"I've never ached this fucking much for another," he rasped as his lips trailed down her neck. He planted a kiss on her shoulder. "You grab me in the gut, shake me up and spit me out, leaving me feeling like I've wrestled with a five-hundred-pound gorilla."

Before she could speak, Duncan's mouth claimed hers, his tongue thrusting deep. He tasted of salt and beer and his own masculine flavor. When Rose kissed him back, he pulled away, his expression serious, intense.

"You're going to need my blood to sustain you tonight. I'm not holding back and I'll expect the same from you."

Rose ran her hand down his stubbled cheek and gave him a seductive smile. "I promise I'll give you a night to remember." When he leaned close and inhaled next to her neck, she finished, "But I won't take your blood."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Duncan let out a low growl and shoved her against the door. He clamped his fangs hard on her throat, thrusting past the thin skin.

Rose's knees almost gave way at the pain followed by sheer pleasure his act elicited. An unbidden gasp escaped her lips as he spoke in her mind.

I hear your heart racing, smell your arousal. See how this affects you? I want to feel that erotic pleasure from you, experience your fangs sinking deep while your body clenches around my cock.

She could feel the pent-up frustration emanating from him. Rose moved her hands between them, yanking at his pants buttons until she could grasp his cock through his boxers.

Rubbing the silk material up and down his shaft, she smiled when he groaned against her neck and clutched her tight. Her eyes closed as she concentrated on building energy inside herself.

She pushed his underwear down and out of the way, wrapping her fingers around his hard shaft once more. Intuitively, she sensed that skin to skin contact helped her forge a stronger connection between them. The sound of his uneven breathing, his blood rushing through his veins and his heart pounding, caused her fangs to unsheathe. But she forced herself to concentrate on Duncan's needs, not her own.

When she felt as if she would explode from the desire-filled heat raging inside her, Rose blew a soft breath against his neck at the same time she let her energized emotions funnel through her fingers.

Duncan grunted and released his hold on her neck to set his forehand against the door behind her. He rocked his hips while her mental white-hot heat bathed his groin. She felt the tingling sensation between them and pressed her lips against the rapid pulse beating in his throat.

Take what I offer, she whispered.

He jerked away from her hold, breathing heavily. Clenching his fists by his side, he hissed out, "Why must you always fight us?"

"I'm giving you what I can." She tried to keep her breathing on an even keel as she kicked off her boots and stepped out of her underwear and jeans. Her heart raced and her sex ached to be filled, throbbing to her pulse's rapid pace.

Duncan stepped out of his shoes and took off his jeans and boxers in jerky, angry movements. His eyes glowed red as he tossed his clothes to the side. Facing her, his fangs fully extended, he roared, I want more! I want your fangs sinking in me. I want to hear you sucking my blood in greedy need, to feel your pulls all the way down to my balls.

Rose's body heat jumped several degrees at the barely leashed control emanating from Duncan and primal picture he painted of them together. His impressive erection jutted against his belly, reminding her how good it felt when he filled her to the hilt. Her stomach flip-flopped and her body fought her mind, telling her to screw her convictions and give in.

But somewhere deep inside she regained her control once more. She straightened her spine, along with her resolve. "Taking your blood comes with a price I'm not willing to pay."

His jaw tense, Duncan stepped close to her and ran his finger along the wounds he'd left on her neck. Stepping back, he lifted his blood-coated finger to his mouth, then slowly sucked the red liquid.

Desire filled his gaze. "I want to taste you again, but I won't take what you haven't replaced."

Disappointment washed over her as she realized Duncan refused take her blood while they made love. She wanted...no...needed him to. The connection between them was strongest when he was locked on her neck, swallowing her blood. Only then could she give him what he needed in return.

Her gaze melded with his as she raised her hand to her neck. Running her fingers across the wound he'd just touched, she slowly slid her blood-covered fingers down her throat, past her collarbone, then feathered them across the curve of her left breast, leaving a life-giving, tempting trail behind.

Duncan's gaze followed the visible, scarlet path her fingers created. His expression darkened and his nostrils flared. She could feel the hunger raging within him.

"Don't tempt me like this!" His arm and shoulder muscles flexed and his chest rose and fell as if he were exerting extreme effort to hold back.

Dark, conflicting emotions whirled within him. She felt them deep in her belly. He seemed so tortured. She had to remind herself she was doing this for him, even if he wasn't aware.

Touching her wound once more, she moved her fingers past the curve of her breast to circle around her nipple.

Raising her gaze to his, she lowered her hand to her side and said in a husky voice, "Take what you want."

A primal growl erupted from Duncan as he cleared the space between them in one long determined stride. Grasping her hips, he lifted her in the air. Rose clasped his shoulders, anticipation making her sex ache.

He pulled her close and nudged his erection against her entrance at the same time she wrapped her legs around his waist. When Duncan lowered his head and bit just above her areola, Rose arched her back, keening in sheer sexual bliss.

She moaned as he wrapped his mouth around her nipple and began to suck in long, hard drags, taking her blood and giving her sheer pleasure in return.

Duncan's hands clasped her hips in a tight grip. His hips rocked into her as he allowed gravity to pull her down over his shaft.

Sheer sexual excitement shot through Rose while his erection sank inside her body. Duncan released her nipple and laved his way up her collarbone to her neck, cleaning her skin as if he didn't want to miss a single drop. As he ran his tongue up her neck, he lifted her up and down his erection in slow, methodical thrusts, building her desire to a fever pitch.

Rose's stomach clenched as her impending climax spiraled through her. She dug her nails in Duncan's shoulders and moaned when his fangs sank deep in her throat once more. The erotic sensation slammed into her, initiating a multilayered climax that flowed through her in wave upon wave, to the point she wondered if her heart would beat right out of her chest.

Rose let the passion build between them, then instinctively used a mental push to give Duncan back what he needed.

She felt the spark slide down his body and back up, then back down before he withdrew his fangs as his knees gave way. Rose closed her eyes and focused on catching him before they hit the floor. Concentrating, she mentally lifted their bodies and laid them on her bed.

Duncan gave a primitive grunt as he clamped his teeth on her neck once more. His grip on her buttocks tightened as he pistoned into her, his rough thrusts bringing her to climax all over again.

When his orgasm slammed into him, he released her neck to roar out his pleasure. At the same time she heard Damn, Roisin! inside her head.

Rose reveled in the give and take between them. She kissed his neck and hugged him close until his body slowed within her.

Duncan looked down at Rose, his body humming. He'd never felt so good, almost energized from their lovemaking. Her cheeks were flushed from their exertions, but she appeared tired.

Worry filled him. He'd bitten her several times. Had he taken too much of her blood? He'd tried to take very little, just enough to heighten their joining, but Rose's blood was more than addictive. Her essence had become a necessity for him. He didn't know if he'd be so generous the next time they made love. He hoped to hell she agreed to become his mate soon.

Kissing her jaw, he chuckled when her languorous gaze widened as his erection instantly hardened inside her.

"Again?"

Duncan nuzzled her neck and ground his hips against hers. "It's your fault. You feel too damn good."

She kept her arms wrapped around his neck and whispered, "I think I overdid it."

"What?" Duncan asked, raising his head to stare at her.

"Um, what I meant was...I think I need more rest. I'm exhausted."

Duncan teasingly nipped at her neck. "What you need, a ghra, is my blood. I promise it'll be the best pick-me-up you'd ever had. Satisfaction guaranteed," he finished with a wink.

Rose shook her head and turned in his arms, facing away from him as she snuggled close. "I just need some sleep. That's all."

She sounded so tired. Duncan felt pangs of worry twinge once more in his gut. He pulled the covers over them and slid his hand down to her belly. Splaying his fingers across the soft skin, he kissed her temple. "You must eventually eat. You won't be feeding for one forever."

Rose put her hand over his and mumbled, "I know," before he heard her breathing turn even in her exhausted sleep.

Duncan's heart swelled that she at least acknowledged they would eventually have a child together, even if she was half asleep when she said it. Her stomach grumbled, sounding like a herd of elephants. The physical sound punctuated his point that she needed to feed. Fear and guilt gripped him.

Technically Rose could've fed, like he had, on her way to the club tonight. It's not like he was around to stop her. And in truth, he had to ask himself, would he? Human blood was a source of nourishment. Nothing more, nothing less. But the idea of Rose's fangs sinking into a man's neck, her swallowing another's blood...sheer rage rippled through him at the mere thought.

Rose did mention taking blood from a female, he rationalized in his mind. Would he be able to accept that? If she were pregnant, he damn well would. Hell, he'd find the women and bring them to her. Yet the thought of someone else's blood nourishing his child in her womb would eat at him, drive him insane with territorial jealousy. He wouldn't be a fit man to be around.

Duncan kissed Rose's cheek. His hand on her belly flexed. "My Anima..."

Rose truly was the woman for him. From the top of her stubborn red head to the tips of her gorgeous toes, she made him ache when he looked at her, shudder when he touched her and reach a plateau of euphoria he never thought possible when he made love to her.

Tonight was beyond spectacular. Rose took well to her vampire powers, lifting them when she'd literally brought him to his knees. While she slept, he flicked his tongue across her neck, closing the wounds he'd caused. His incisors lengthened once more at the small taste of blood. Duncan lifted Rose's hand and placed it across his throat. Her warmth comforted him, while his groin tightened at the thought of Rose digging her fangs into his flesh.

He groaned and kissed her palm before lowering her hand under the covers once more. Forcing his lurid imagination to relax, Duncan closed his eyes and counted his blessings Rose was his. He would protect her at all costs. It was only a matter of time before they mated.

The next morning Rose sat across from Nigel in a booth trying her best to choke down a cup of tea without puking her guts up. If she didn't eat something, her uncle would begin to wonder about her. Duncan sat beside her, drinking his cup of coffee. Several other B&B patrons were eating their breakfast. Conversation buzzed in the room while the smell of sausage and biscuits wafted from the kitchen.

Nigel took a long drink of his coffee and rubbed his stomach. "I'm starving. Those smells are killing me. I can't wait to have more of Siobhan's wonderful cooking."

"Uh," Rose managed to grunt out. The smells were making her nauseous. She took another sip of her tea, hoping to alleviate the empty stomach feeling.

Nigel set down his coffee cup and glanced surreptitiously left and right. Leaning forward, he said in a low voice, "You're not going to believe this but..." he paused, glanced around again then continued, "Siobhan's a vampire."

Rose promptly choked on her tea, spewing it all over the table.

"I know it sounds unbelievable, and at first it wigged me out, but you know how into that paranormal group I was a couple years ago. They don't have anything on Siobhan..." Nigel said as he grabbed napkins to mop up the mess she made.

Duncan's low chuckle entered her head. Now would be a good time to tell Nigel, Roisin Just a guess but I think he might be open to the idea.

Rose cut her narrowed gaze over at the sarcasm in Duncan's tone. You just find this hilarious, don't you?

A real knee-slapper, he replied in a droll tone even though obvious amusement danced in his amber gaze.

Nigel was still rambling on. His cheeks had turned red. "Last night we...uh...well, let's just say there's chemistry there."