He finally believed there might actually be more days for them to spend together.

"Rest, amor. The fever will come again and you will need to feed once more."

Fear and sorrow colored his words, so powerfully that even in her dazed and altered state, Ramona recognized it. "I don't regret this."

A sad smile swept across his features. His human features. "May you feel the same way one hundred years from now."

One hundred years, she thought, and realized suddenly that she had no clue about his life. Where he had come from or how long he had been alive...or rather, undead.

"Tell me about yourself," she said, snuggling against his side. She listened as he told her his story, how he had been a callous and selfish lord who had lost his life and all his physical belongings, but gained something much more valuable-his honor and Esperanza.

Ramona's heart twisted at the other woman's name, recalling Diego's grief when she had pa.s.sed. "You loved her a great deal."

Diego stroked Ramona's shoulder. "I did, only...this changed her."

"This? You mean, being a vampire?" "She lost so much. Her life. Her family. All that we knew."

"You fear the same will happen to us. There is an 'us,' sabes," she said, cupping his face in her hands and running her thumbs along his cheeks.

He smiled again and nodded. "There is. Now rest. We have a lifetime to talk."

And to love, she thought, closing her eyes and sinking against the hard warmth of his chest. Her body felt stronger, her heart light with the promise of life and the love of the man cradling her in his arms.

When the fever came again hours later, she knew there was no turning back. No return to her human life. And she didn't care.

Diego bared his neck to her, and at the sight, an inferno filled the center of her and exploded outward. Her head felt as if it might burst, but then there came a sudden release as her fangs erupted, nipping her lower lip as they elongated.

Saliva drenched her mouth and she imagined the taste of his skin. Of his blood.

He lowered his head and whispered against her lips, "Bite me."

She needed no further invitation.

The flesh of his neck gave way beneath the sharpness of her fangs. As she sucked, her head felt giddy and between her legs came a low, delicious throbbing that grew in intensity with each pull against the pulse in his neck.

Suddenly his hand was at her breast, working the tip into a hard peak until she wanted the satisfaction of his body more than she wanted his blood.

"Diego, love me," she cried, and he covered her mouth with his, licking away the remnants of his blood, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She tasted him, sweet and salty. His tongue mimicked the thrust of his body that was to come.

She pressed upward with her hips, and after a rush of hands and fingers, they were both naked, her hospital gown and his clothes tossed negligently onto the floor. She wanted him to rush then and take her, to drive into her over and over until release screamed through her. Instead he tarried, straddling her body and caressing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, sucking each nipple into his mouth until she was begging for more. Even then he delayed, trailing his mouth down the center of her body, dropping kisses as he went until he reached her navel. He lingered there, tonguing the dainty indentation and eliciting a moan from her.

"That's it, querida. Enjoy this. Release yourself. Give me the woman to savor," he said, and with his words, a change came over her. A freedom to be anything and everything she had ever dreamed of being-and never dared to.

Applying pressure on his shoulders, she rolled him onto his back, bent and tongued his hard nipples. She loved the little delighted groan he gave and the way his erection pulsed against the tender flesh of her inner thigh.

When their gazes met, she realized he had reverted to his human self, as had she-when she ran her tongue along her upper teeth, there was no hint of a fang.

So this was how it would be, she thought, and didn't hesitate, wanting him no matter what he might be. She loved the heart inside the physical sh.e.l.l more than anything else.

She bent toward him, the tips of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s brushing the hard wall of his chest. She kissed him, and as she did so, reached down and encircled his erection. With slow, tender strokes, she built his pa.s.sion, loving the bow of his body and the elegant line of his neck as he bent his head back, battling his release.

"It's okay, Diego. Show me your true self."

He groaned and looked at her, his eyes glowing, the hint of fang visible below his lip. "Love me," he pleaded. She guided him to her center and positioned him at the entrance of her womb. As she slowly accepted him into her body, she said, "I do, Diego. I do love you."

Diego grasped her hips as she moved on him, urging her on as she rode him. He reined in his need, because when he finally released it, the vampire would want its due.

She tired above him and he rolled over, bringing her beneath him. He increased the strength of his thrusts and she answered, gripping his shoulders and urging him on, lifting her knees and wrapping her legs around his waist to deepen his penetration.

He needed more and sought her breast, sucking on the sweet tip. Desiring another kind of satisfaction, he carefully lowered his fangs, ran the sharp tip along the hard point of her nipple. She shuddered and her heartbeat picked up in speed.

Meeting her gaze, his breath rasping in his throat, he said, "I want a taste."

Her eyes bled out to the eerie green of the demon, and from beneath her upper lip, her fangs glided down. "I'm ready," she said, but he knew she wasn't. She had yet to experience even a small part of the pleasure to be had. He intended to show her.

He plunged deep into her center and didn't withdraw, wanting to be tight in her body's embrace during the pa.s.sion he was about to unleash.

He sucked on her beaded nipple, grazed it once again with his teeth before gently sinking them into the tender flesh.

She called out his name and muscles clenched on his erection, milking him closer and closer to satisfaction.

He dammed the flood of emotion, wanting her more than he had ever wanted anyone else. Wanting to please her more than he wanted life itself. As he released his bite, he licked the small nicks left by his fangs, healing them with his tongue.

Then he moved in her again, one hand braced on the bed, the other caressing her breast until she arched her hips upward, asking for more.

He made her beg. Then, with a slow, nearly maddening descent, he filled her until Ramona was writhing beneath him. Tremors racked her body and his. He could hear the strong, insistent beat of her heart, almost calling out to him.

Love me. Love me. Love me.

And he did.

He bent his head and nuzzled her face, shifting aside her long chestnut locks to reveal the crook of her neck.

She did the same, brushing aside his hair and positioning her mouth by his jugular. She traced the skin there with the sharp points of her teeth.

At that, he finally lost control, sank his teeth into her, and she did the same.

The sensation of her putting the bite on him opened an emotional and physical floodgate. His body shook as he took his satisfaction, driving deep into her, no longer fearful of hurting her, because she was no longer a fragile human.

She murmured something unintelligible, but dug her nails into his shoulder, letting him know it was all about pa.s.sion now and not pain.

He fed until his body climaxed, pouring his undead seed into her core. She gave one last pull with her mouth and then released him, crying out. She called his name and cradled his head to her, raining kiss after kiss against his face.

As they dropped down together onto the mattress, Diego fit her into his side, unwilling to let go of her. She nestled close, clearly not wanting to leave him, either.

When they regained control and their human forms reigned once more, Ramona teased, "Tell me about yourself...again."

"It's a long long story." He laid a hand at her waist and pulled her tight, but she sat up, a playful smile on her face and life shining from her dark brown eyes.

"We have all the time in the world," she said, and kissed him.

As he returned the kiss, he realized how strong and determined she had been even in the face of death. How her pa.s.sion for life and for him transcended mortal bounds, and would feed their souls for all eternity. He knew then that Ramona was right.

They had all the time in the world to be together.