At his frown, she went on. "That night when you came back in such terrible shape from Keaton's place, your friend from the Order said you needed blood. And Amelie told me what you did for me last night, after I was shot. You saved me with your blood, Gideon. So, I had to try to save you with mine."

He blew out an oath. "The blood bond, Savannah...it's permanent. Unbreakable. It's a sacred thing." His frown deepened. "This isn't the way it's supposed to be."

She sat back, feeling hurt. Feeling she'd done something wrong and he was disappointed. "I'm sorry if it wasn't what you wanted."

Gideon pushed himself up off the bed, and groaned in pain.

"Be careful," she said, trying to ease him back down. "You shouldn't be moving around, and I shouldn't be saying things that upset you. You were shot last night too. The one that hit me pa.s.sed cleanly through my lung and ribs, but the one inside you..."

"Still in my head," he guessed grimly. "In my brain."

Savannah gave him a sober nod. "Amelie wanted to take you to the hospital--"

"No." He said it firmly, the same way he'd insisted the other night in Boston when she wanted to get him medical help for his injuries then. "Human doctors can't help me, Savannah."

"I know," she said. "So, I did the only thing I could think of."

He reached out, took her hand in his. "You saved my life." He swore again, more roundly this time. "When I realized you'd left...when I knew Keaton's Master was still out there somewhere, I couldn't get to you fast enough, Savannah."

She heard the rage in his voice for the enemy he'd wanted so badly to root out and destroy, and she nodded sadly. "I'm glad he's dead. For what he did to Rachel and your brothers, even to Professor Keaton. For what he did to you, Gideon, I'm glad Smithson is dead. I'm glad you got what you came here for."

He scowled. "I came for you, Savannah. I love you. I should've said it before. I should say it a thousand times now, so you'll know what you mean to me."

She felt a warmth blooming in her breast, seeping through her veins. Not her own emotion, but Gideon's. Flowing through their bond.

"I know you feel it," he said, his grasp warm on her hand. "I know you can feel my love inside you now, in your blood. Tell me you love me too, Savannah. Tell me you'll let me prove it to you. Be my mate. Come back with me to Boston. Let me try to be the hero you deserve."

She slipped her hand out of his and gave a small shake of her head. "I don't want a hero."

She thought about how he almost died last night--in combat, now with a bullet buried deep in his brain. A bullet that could dislodge anytime and wreak more damage, maybe something her blood wouldn't be able to fix.

Maybe the bullet already had taken things from him: His ESP talent. His eyes.

"I couldn't bear it," she murmured. "I can't stand by while you go out to war every night. I'm not strong enough to give you permission to fight and bleed and maybe never come back."

Gideon was silent for a very long while, his face downcast. "I've been killing Rogues nearly all my adult life, trying to even a score. Trying to atone. It was an empty quest. But the Order is my family, Savannah. The warriors are my brothers now, the only ones I'll ever have. I can't give them up, not even for you."

Her heart breaking, she nodded mutely. Struggled to find her voice. "I understand. It wouldn't be fair for me to ask that of you."

He lifted her chin on the edge of his hand. "You didn't. You asked me not to go out and fight. Maybe that I can do. Maybe there are other ways--non-combat ways--that I can serve the Order's missions, yet keep a pledge to you...my woman. My Breedmate. My forever love."

Savannah wanted to let her elation flood over her, but she was still stung by the way they'd left things back in Boston. "You hurt me, Gideon. You weren't honest with me. Without that, we'll have nothing."

"I know." He stroked her cheek. "I know, and I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you. Let me love you." He caught her nape in his big, strong hand and pulled her to him for a brief, tender kiss. "Say you love me, and let me start being the man you make me want to be."

She let out a sigh, unable to resist him or refuse him. "I do love you, Gideon."

"Then let me bond with you properly, the way I want it to be for you, for us. Be mine, Savannah."

"Yes," she whispered against his lips. "Yes, Gideon. I will be your mate."

He pulled her against him, letting her feel his arousal. "Let's make it right, now."

She reached out with her index finger to push the ridiculous sungla.s.ses down on the bridge of his nose. Amber sparks shot through the pale blue of his eyes. "You're only a few hours out of death's doorway, and you want to make love?"

He grinned. "Oh, I want to do more than that."

"My sister is in the other room," she reminded him, whispering on a scandalized laugh.

Gideon was still for a moment, time during which the bedroom door quietly closed on its own volition, the lock softly clicking into place.

He kissed her, then trailed his lips along the side of her neck. Savannah's heartbeat throbbed in response to the subtle grazing of his fang tips at her pulse point. He dragged her farther up alongside him and rolled toward her, grinding his rigid length into her hip in invitation and demand.

"You're very bad," she said, as he opened his mouth over her carotid.

And then gently, sensually, she felt those razor-sharp points pierce her delicate skin. Her veins lit up, electric and hot with power, as Gideon drew the first deep swallow from her vein.

"Oh, G.o.d," she gasped, pleasure flooding her. "You are very, very bad."

And as her body melted into him, Savannah was thinking how a lifetime with Gideon was going to be very, very good.

Thank you for reading A Touch of Midnight. I hope you enjoyed it! If you liked this book--or any of my other releases--please consider rating the book at the online retailer of your choice. Your ratings and reviews help other readers find new favorites, and of course there is no better or more appreciated support for an author than word of mouth recommendations from happy readers. Thanks again for your interest in my books!

Lara Adrian.

www.LaraAdrian.com.

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Thirsty for more of the Midnight Breed?.

Available now on Kindle: A Touch of Midnight (prequel novella).

Kiss of Midnight Kiss of Crimson.

Midnight Awakening Midnight Rising Veil of Midnight.

Ashes of Midnight Shades of Midnight.

Taken by Midnight Deeper Than Midnight.

A Taste of Midnight (novella).

Darker After Midnight The Midnight Breed Series Companion Edge of Dawn Coming Soon:.

Crave the Night (Aug 2014) Tempted by Midnight (novella, Oct 2014).

Complete list of t.i.tles by.

New York Times & #1 internationally.

best-selling author LARA ADRIAN..

Midnight Breed Series A Touch of Midnight (prequel novella) Kiss of Midnight Kiss of Crimson.

Midnight Awakening Midnight Rising.

Veil of Midnight Ashes of Midnight.

Shades of Midnight Taken by Midnight Deeper Than Midnight A Taste of Midnight (ebook novella) Darker After Midnight The Midnight Breed Series Companion.

Edge of Dawn Crave the Night (Aug 5, 2014).

Tempted by Midnight (novella, Oct 14, 2014) Masters of Seduction Series.

Coming Summer 2014.

LARA ADRIAN.

writing as TINA ST. JOHN Dragon Chalice Series.

Heart of the Hunter (free ebook) Heart of the Flame Heart of the Dove Warrior Trilogy.

White Lion's Lady (free ebook) Black Lion's Bride Lady of Valor.

Lord of Vengeance Other t.i.tles NightDrake.

A Glimpse of Darkness (ebook collaborative novella).

About the Author.

LARA ADRIAN is the New York Times and #1 internationally best-selling author of the Midnight Breed vampire romance series, with nearly 4 million books in print and digital worldwide and translations licensed to more than 20 countries. Her books regularly appear in the top spots of all the major bestseller lists including the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Indiebound, Amazon.com, Barnes & n.o.ble, etc. Her debut t.i.tle, Kiss of Midnight, was named Borders Books bestselling debut romance of 2007. Later that year, her third t.i.tle, Midnight Awakening, was named one of Amazon.com's Top Ten Romances of the Year. Reviewers have called Lara's books "addictively readable" (Chicago Tribune), "extraordinary" (Fresh Fiction), and "one of the best vampire series on the market" (Romantic Times).

Writing as TINA ST. JOHN, her historical romances have won numerous awards including the National Readers Choice; Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer's Choice; Booksellers Best; and many others. She was twice named a Finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA Awards, for Best Historical Romance (White Lion's Lady) and Best Paranormal Romance (Heart of the Hunter). More recently, the 2011 German translation of Heart of the Hunter debuted on Der Spiegel bestseller list.

With an ancestry stretching back to the Mayflower and the court of King Henry VIII, the author lives with her husband in New England, surrounded by centuries-old graveyards, hip urban comforts, and the endless inspiration of the broody Atlantic Ocean.

Connect online at:.

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