When Twilight Burns Read Online Free

smell.
    Sebastian stepped in behind her, and then brushed past as he started further into the darkness where Victoria could see an archway of stone and the outline of a massive wooden door. “As you can see, this was built long ago, around the time my gran—Beauregard was turned undead. It was originally beneath a Carmelite abbey, if you can believe the irony—although monks never actually lived down here. That’s a story in itself.”
    â€œWhich I’m certain your grandfather told you as he dandled you in your leading strings on his knee. What a terrible choice for bedtime storytelling.”
    â€œBedtime story? Now that you mention it, I have a few I’d like to share with you.”
    Victoria heard his soft chuckle as she followed him across the small antechamber, her lips twitching in spite of herself. At the looming door, he paused. Although his body blocked her view, she heard the faint clunks of something tumbling into place. “You know the way to unlock the door to a vampire lair. It is a vampire lair, I presume. Why should that not surprise me.”
    â€œWell, dash it all. My plan to fascinate and mystify you into a more accommodating mood is obviously not working. And yes, it is a vampire lair. One of the oldest in England.” He turned to look at her, their faces close in the small yellow light. His eyes glowed like a hungry cat’s. “No vampires around?”
    â€œNone that I can feel,” she replied.
    â€œGood.” Before she could wonder why he had to ask, he grasped her by the shoulders, pushing her back against the rough wall. He followed the momentum of her movement, lining his warm body against hers as he lowered his face.
    She met his mouth, her body pressed between Sebastian and the wall as their kiss eased into a long, loose tangle of lips and tongue. Heat seeped through her clothing, into breasts and belly and thighs as he pressed against her, just as the cold ooze from behind chilled her. She closed her eyes, let her knees give a little. It was good…good to be held, good to feel the spiral of desire curling through her, good to know that she was still alive. Still human and able to feel her own heartbeat lift and pound.
    But the kiss dug up memories, frightening and dark images that threatened to overwhelm the pleasure of the moment…of needle-sharp fangs piercing her skin, the chill and warmth of the undead’s lips as they mauled at her flesh, seducing and culling her consciousness…luring her into a funnel of malevolence and darkness…
    She nudged the unpleasant images away and delved more fiercely into the taste of Sebastian, reveling in his smoky, clove smell and the heat—heat, uninterrupted by chill or pain.
    He pulled away, tugging her lower lip gently between his teeth in a little nick of surprise, then surging back to fully cover her mouth again, leaving her breathless. And then he eased back, releasing her from the kiss. She felt the curve of his lips as he smiled faintly against her, and the soft whisk of his clove-scented breath.
    â€œAh, then,” he murmured, loosening his hold on her shoulders. “You haven’t forgotten.”
    â€œNo, of course not.” Her voice was too husky, and, by God, her knees felt much too unsteady. She straightened them and stepped away from the supporting wall.
    â€œI’d begun to wonder.” He moved back, looked down at her. She hadn’t even noticed when he slid the torch into a holder near the door, and now its light embraced them and their uneven breaths. His smile was crooked and his eyes burned amber, leaving no mistake about what he wanted.
    â€œWhat’s behind the door?” she asked briskly, to break the mood. “What are you looking for? Although it wouldn’t surprise me to learn I was wrong, I’m fairly certain you didn’t bring me here merely for seduction purposes.”
    â€œOf course not, but I couldn’t resist the