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to risk that tenuous peace and the progress that had been made for the sake of his desire for this one human woman? He marveled at the depth of his desire for her. It was unprecedented. He'd had feelings of affection for a thousand women, made love to thousands more and never had he experienced need such as that which Layla evoked in him.
    The fact that she did it without trying was inexplicable. What was it about her?
     
    Layla grew more amazed with each passing second. Did he know she could hear his thoughts? Was he allowing her access, or had something weakened inside him so that she was able to breach the barrier protecting his mind?
    Whatever the case, she couldn't believe it. He really was telling the truth about his kind. All of the stories and myths were true. Vampires and Angels, werewolves, witches, fairies and Daemons – they truly existed.
    If that wasn't mind-bending enough, the fact that he'd risked so much to have her with him had her reeling. And damn her traitorous soul, that was like a nuclear blast that stripped away all her fears and concerns. Augustus wanted her.
     
    Augustus snapped back to attention at the intrusion of her thoughts. He had not meant to lower his barriers. Or had he? Hell and damnation, his mind was muddled in a fashion that was unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
    There was but one way to clear the clouds.
    "Layla."
    Her gaze met his.
    Augustus extended his right hand and waited. Several seconds passed before she took a step toward him. Just one step and then she stopped.
    "I do want you, Augustus. You know that. But I don't want to fall victim to you. I don’t want to lose myself, to give up everything I've wished and worked for. I want you but I want to still be me and have my life. I don't want to be your prisoner or your slave. I want …I want…"
    Yeah, what exactly do you want? Again, that annoying inner voice.
    It came to her – that moment of honesty with self. Despite better judgement, what she wanted was to know what it felt like to make love to him.
    "I want to be your lover."
    "Then take my hand."
    She hesitated for another few seconds then placed her hand in his. Augustus pulled her to him, using his free hand to gently tilt her face up to his. Her lips were soft and pliant beneath his, her taste sweet.
    He took care to be gentle and slow, waiting for her lips to part against his before he explored her mouth. She was more tentative but once she began to reciprocate, she pressed closer to him and the kiss became more passionate.
    It wasn't long before he heard the sound – that low tone that begins in a woman's throat and emerges as a soft moan of need. When Augustus heard that, the restraints he'd placed on his passion became threatened. His arms moved around her to crush her to him.
    His action earned no protest. The kiss turned primal, full of hunger and impatience. Her hands worked up to tangle in his hair, her mouth seeking dominance over his. Her passion was welcomed but it also wakened the blood lust he kept locked away.
    Augustus did not feed on humans aside from those who volunteered, people who traded blood for protection, sanctuary, or money. It was an arrangement that provided him with the sustenance he required. He rarely took advantage of those relationships anymore. The Seven had arranged for blood banks that kept the Vampire races well fed.
    Nonetheless, desire such as that which coursed through him now incited the blood lust. He pushed back from the kiss, looked at her flushed face and eyes dilated with desire and was stabbed with another pang.
    Augustus released her and turned away. He walked over to the wall of glass and looked out over the peaceful landscape, seeking to rein in the beast that clawed at his mind.
    Layla was frozen in place. She didn't understand what she'd felt in him. Desire? Yes, but also something else. Something equally as hot and demanding.
    What had happened? If he wanted her then why had he walked away? What kind of tactic was this?