Read The Seven: Four tales of passion, danger and love for Free Online Page B

Was he playing with her?
    "No." His voice had her looking in his direction.
    He'd turned to face her and Layla could feel waves pouring from him. Desire, indecision and surprisingly, fear.
    "What is there to be afraid of?"
    His eyes widened fractionally. "You can read me that well?"
    "No, but I recognize fear and ask again, what do you have to be afraid of?"
    "You."
    "Me?" Of all the answers he could have given that was one that she'd never have imagined. "How in the world could you fear me? What could I possibly do to hurt you, Augustus?"
    "Much."
    That made no sense at all. Layla went to him and cupped his face in both of her hands. "That's silly. Look at us. You're – you're a Vampire and sexy as sin and I'm just – just another ordinary woman."
    "There's nothing ordinary about you, Layla. You must know that."
    "No, Augustus, I don't. I don't know why you'd want me."
    "Is there an explanation for why one person is attracted to another, what makes us desire one person over another? Is it chemical, biological, psychological, spiritual? A combination of all or none of the above? And does it matter? There is a truth that exists between us and it is a simple truth. I want you and you want me. But in that wanting lies danger."
    "What kind of danger."
    "Lust."
    "Lust isn't necessarily a bad thing."
    "Lust such as mine may be. For you. You must understand that strong desire can awaken the blood lust within me."
    "You mean…?" She had not considered that. Would he bite her? She wasn't sure she wanted to experience that.
    "Yes, I mean it makes me want to take blood from you."
    The curious part of her nature sprang to the forefront. "Look, I'm not saying I want to experience it, but what exactly does that do to a human? Is it like the books and movies? Does it make your—victim—swoon and get all orgasmic? Does it make them under your control so they can't do anything you don't want them to? And what about you? Does taking blood from someone connect you to them in a special way? Also, if you—"
    His laugh cut her short. Her first reaction was irritation, until she realized that his laugh was one of genuine amusement. "Sorry. I just never imagined I'd meet a real Vampire and you know how we romance readers are – we just loves us some sexy Vampires and –"
    His kiss silenced her. It was hard and fast, but ripe with passion. When he pulled back and smiled at her, she saw his fangs. Strangely, this time it didn't make her cringe. "So? What if you did bite me?"
    "It would evoke pleasure beyond anything you've ever dreamed."
    God that sounded tempting, so tempting that it unsettled her. What was she doing? She was so out of her depth. She shouldn't be here. Shouldn't be with him.
    "Do you truly want to leave, Layla?"
    "Yes. No. I don't know. I want to go home, to be free to leave. But—" She could not look at him and speak the words so she walked around him to gaze out of the window. "But I want you, too. I just … I just want it to be my choice."
    "It is."
    "Is it?" She looked over her shoulder at him. "If I asked you to make love to me all night and then when the sun rose I asked to go home, would you let me?"
     
    His own decision shocked him. He'd been determined to have her, to keep her and yet now he no longer wanted that. Well, he did want her, but he wanted her to be with him because it was what she wanted as well.
    Surprising as it was, for the first time in a thousand years, Augustus wanted someone to love him just for him. Not because he could charm them, or control them. Not because he had power or wealth, but to honestly love him.
    "Yes."
    Surprise was clear on her face. "Do you mean that?"
    "I do."
    "Then what are you waiting for, Augustus?"
    He swept her up in his arms and headed for the master suite. She might well want to leave in the morning, but until then she was his.
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    I keep expecting to wake up and discover that all of this is some crazy elaborate dream. It seems impossible even