Bite at First Sight (21 page)

“Then I suppose we should move to the next concerning subject at hand.” A measure of tension left him as he turned his scrutiny on Deveril. “Now tell me why I should become engaged to Lady Rosslyn.” He fought back a tendril of pleasure at the idea.

The Lord of Cornwall leaned back in his chair. “I had thought the answer would be obvious.”

Comprehension struck like a bolt of lightning. “You think doing so may deter the Elders from ordering her death.” Rafe cursed himself for not grasping the obvious. “Just as when you wed Lydia.”

“I would have wed her anyway. I simply could not wait any longer for…” Vincent broke off his words with a salacious wink.

Rafe laughed. He now knew such anticipation. Then the gravity of the situation settled upon his soul, crushing all levity. “It may not work. I made Cassandra a pariah the moment I brought her into this house. Her peers cross to the other side of the street when they see her.”

“And many will continue to do so,” Vincent agreed calmly. “However, these people thrive on gossip and intrigue to season their dull, insipid lives. Many will welcome the engagement simply because it will give them the opportunity to keep your scandalous adventures as a subject of titillation.”

Rafe’s agonized sigh echoed through the room. “As much as I am loath to say so, you are likely correct. Now how do you propose I make my debut in Society and resurrect Cassandra’s reputation?”

Vincent took a deep drink. “First, you will both require new wardrobes, which would cost the earth at such short notice. Thankfully, I have two vampire seamstresses.”

“The Siddons sisters?” Rafe nearly choked on his brandy. “Do you think it’s a wise idea to bring them back to London after all the trouble they caused last year?”

Vincent sighed. “Not in the slightest. Unfortunately, they’re the only ones who can prepare you for the ball in time…and I’ll have a guard with them at all times.”

As the Lord Vampire of Cornwall continued to rattle off an inexhaustible list of requirements, Rafe resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. This would be impossible.

“And this is a genuine Van Leeuwenhoek microscope.” Cassandra’s hands trembled as she held the precious device out to the vampire countess. “It can magnify up to five hundred times.”

Lydia glanced at the microscope distantly before her gaze once more narrowed on Cassandra’s face. “Lady Rosslyn, as fascinating as this is, I cannot help noticing that you seem flustered.”

“I am perfectly all right,” Cassandra protested weakly. “I confess I was taken by surprise at your husband’s idea of a feigned engagement, though I am certain a logical explanation exists for such a ruse.”

Lady Deveril placed her hands on her hips, golden eyes intent, as if trying to peer into her soul. “
Cassandra
, I realize that you are trying to handle this complicated situation with your usual aplomb. However, I do think it would be easier for you if you talked about it.”

Cassandra heaved a sigh. “Everything in my life has become so complicated, so confusing, and so far out of my control. I cannot believe that Rafe’s people are waging a war against him because of me and—”

“You mustn’t think any such thing,” Lydia admonished. “From what I have discovered, Clayton is an utter and complete rapscallion and has been planning this foolish rebellion for quite some time. If you hadn’t ended up with Rafe, Clayton would have concocted another excuse for his treason.”

Despite the comforting reason of the countess’s explanation, it did little to ameliorate Cassandra’s other worries.

As if reading her mind, Lydia folded her arms and fixed her with an intent stare. “Now, tell me exactly how you came to be here.”

Cassandra opened her mouth to protest, but the countess’s will was irrefutable. With a sigh, she complied. The words came slowly at first, then rushed out like floodwaters held too long in restraint.

She began with her fateful jaunt to the cemetery to gather a specimen for her studies and her subsequent encounter with Rafe. She told the countess about how he’d been forced to take her prisoner when he’d been unable to erase her memory. She described his surgeries and the accelerating trouble with Clayton. Yet she did not speak of his passionate, drugging kisses or his intoxicating mastery over her body. Her own mind was still struggling to process and analyze that unprecedented phenomenon.

Lydia took a deep breath and exhaled in a rush. “I cannot believe he Changed someone without sanction from the Elders! He has always been so staunch about following the rules. I would laugh if it hadn’t resulted in such dire circumstances. And he was supposed to have killed you a few nights ago?”

Cassandra nodded. “Yes. He told me that he couldn’t bring himself to do so, and now he is trying to find another vampire to Change me.”

Lydia smiled warmly. “I knew he was interested in you since I witnessed your first encounter. He used to watch you so intently when he thought no one was looking. I was afraid he planned to carry you off and devour you.”

“Frankly, he seemed more annoyed with me than interested.” Cassandra laughed bitterly. “Now I fear he is suffering from a juxtaposition of guilt for imprisoning me and gratitude for my healing his arm.”

Lady Deveril shook her head adamantly. “No, Rafe is ruthless as well as a tiresome stickler for the rules. If he didn’t care for you, he would have killed you without a whisper of remorse.”

“He’s never said a word to indicate that he feels anything aside from the aforementioned remorse and thankfulness.” Her heart ached at the admission.

“He is a man of action, not words.” Lydia’s voice remained implacable. Suddenly, her brow rose and a ghost of a mischievous smile hovered on her lips. “Has he kissed you?”

Cassandra’s face flamed, remembering the original bargain Rafe had made with her and its sinful, sensuous culmination. Images of his torrid lovemaking flashed through her mind, momentarily suspending her capability of speech and rational thought.

Lydia gave her a knowing grin. “Ah, I see he has done more than that. Has he made love to you?”

“I don’t know if he
has
exactly,” she blurted out without thinking, overcome with frustrated confusion. “‘Made love’ seems to be such a placid term for what he…”

The countess’s eyes widened in concern as she placed a hand on Cassandra’s sleeve and whispered, “Did he
hurt
you?”

“No, not at all…” Cassandra was so embarrassed by the subject that even her ears felt hot. Were all Americans this candid about such intimate subjects? “Though he was quite, ah, vigorous.”

After Lydia made a small relieved sound, her devilish smile returned. “Yes, they can be that way at times. However, vampires are much stronger than humans, so it speaks volumes that he made an effort to not cause you pain.”

Unbidden, a tendril of warmth curled through Cassandra’s belly at the words. She managed a light, awkward laugh. “This is a rather unseemly conversation.”

Lydia nodded, undaunted. “Yes, it is. Very well, I shall change the subject.” Cocking her head to the side, she asked, “Do you love him?”

Cassandra sucked in a breath. Forcing composure, she said in a monotone, “Love is an affliction without any logical basis.”

“Hence its grand mystery, power, and endless capacity for wonder,” Lydia answered levelly. “Now answer my question. Do you love him?”

Cassandra dropped her gaze to the floor, unable to face the woman’s sympathetic gaze. “
Yes
.” The word choked out against her will. “But there is no sense in it. I cannot understand how—”

“Not everything in this world is comprehensible. Nor is it meant to be, in my opinion.” Lydia’s smooth drawl washed over Cassandra like a soothing balm. “You should permit some mystery in your life.”

“I am not sure that I can.” Cassandra shrugged helplessly. “Such a concept deviates from my nature.” Even now, her capacity for common sense was in turmoil with the idea of conversing with a vampire about romance like a debutante at her first ball.

Lydia seemed to understand Cassandra’s inner struggle. “We can talk more another time.” She closed her eyes and turned her head toward the door, like a doe scenting the air for predators. “Our gentlemen are finishing up in the study.”

The moment Lydia finished speaking, Cassandra heard a door open with a creak and hushed, solemn male voices echoing softly in the corridor outside. Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine and willed herself to present a serene countenance before they entered the room.

Lord Deveril came in first, blue-gray eyes wide with fascination as they perused her laboratory. When those stormy eyes settled on his wife, they warmed, taking on a hint of turquoise. “And how are you ladies getting on?”

Lydia’s features softened, transforming her into the very image of rapturous adoration. Cassandra wondered if her own face gave away her feelings so readily—and fervently prayed that was not the case.

As Rafe approached her, she turned to the earl. “We are quite well, thank you, Lord Deveril. Would you care to tell me why Rafe and I are pretending to be engaged for the sake of the
ton
’s approval? And why are we bothering with this nonsense over a ball when war is imminent?”

“I already discussed my scheme with Rafe,” Vincent told her levelly.

Cassandra gave Rafe a stern frown. “Don’t even consider giving me the brush-off as well.”

Rafe chuckled. “I had no intention of doing so,
Countess
. Vincent believes that if we have a more prominent place in the mortal world, the Elders may be more reluctant to kill me…or you. It may not work, but there is little harm in trying.” For a moment he looked like he would say more; then instead he lit a cigar.

“Well, I can see the reason in such a scheme,” Cassandra said with forced brightness. Her stomach continued to churn in discomfort at certain aspects of the deception.

“It was all I could think of on such short notice,” Lord Deveril said apologetically. “The pair of you will need any scrap of mercy you can garner.”

She managed a wan smile. “Thank you, my lord.”

“Please, call me Vincent.” The vampire bowed with a friendly smile and gestured around her laboratory. “You have a very impressive working space here. Would you care to show me around and perhaps tell me the tale of Rafe’s miraculous recovery?”

Cassandra smiled gratefully at the change of subject and gave him a tour of her laboratory, showing him her surgical instruments and explaining how she had used them for Rafe’s operation. Indeed, it was a relief to talk openly of her procedures rather than evading the truth as when she spoke with Wakley.

Lydia chimed in with avid, perceptive questions. Rafe leaned against the door frame and supplied answers when required, smiling more than she had ever seen him. A rare comforting air filled the room as the vampires looked at her with respect and admiration, rather than the pity and concern they had first displayed.

By the time they left the laboratory and Rafe showed Vincent and Lydia to the guest chamber he’d had prepared for them, Cassandra truly felt as if she had allies in this frightening, confusing situation.

* * *

Once Vincent and Lydia were settled for the day rest and Rafe and Cassandra had returned to their bedchamber, Rafe couldn’t wait a moment longer to pull her into his arms.
Dios
, she had been so brave. So astoundingly practical and so damned beautiful. For a while, he was content to merely hold her, savoring the much-craved heat of her body against his.

But when he helped her out of her brocade gown, a surge of undeniable lust roared through him as his eyes took in her naked perfection. Rafe gritted his teeth and resisted the primal urge to ravage her. Tonight he would be gentle.

“Would you like me to rub your back,
Querida
?” he asked softly, unbuttoning his shirt.

She turned to face him, and he sucked in a breath at the sight of her perfect breasts. “That would be lovely, thank you.”

As she lay on her stomach, Rafe sat on the edge of the bed, pretending not to notice her admiring the reflection of his bare chest in the mirror. His pleasure in that observation, however, was impossible to conceal. He hid his face in a curtain of hair and concentrated on massaging her neck and shoulders.

Her low moan of pleasure made his cock harden. Rafe struggled to tamp down his lust. Her muscles were alarmingly tense and knotted, physical testimony of the strain she’d suffered the last few nights.

His gaze narrowed on the fading bruise on her cheek, and a fresh well of rage roared through him. Clayton would pay for hurting her…for merely
touching
her.

Rafe bit down on his anger, instead focusing on the feel of her silken skin beneath his fingertips as he applied gentle pressure and the heady mixture of triumph and arousal as the tightness eased and she made exquisite, blissful sounds.

He worked his way down to the middle of her back, biting his lip as she let out a small cry and wriggled her hips in silent invitation. It was torture to remain true to his task, but since the sexual torment seemed to be double edged, it was all the more sweet.

The scent of her arousal perfumed the air, driving him mad with desire, but still he restrained himself from delving his fingers lower into the succulent heat between her thighs.

Suddenly, she struggled beneath him, as if wanting to get away. Rafe froze. What had he done wrong? Had he hurt her?

Cassandra twisted around to face him. The hunger in her eyes made his mouth go dry. “I want you, Rafe.”

She rose up and seized his shoulders as her long legs encircled his hips. Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him down to meet her kiss. As her mouth devoured his, she ground herself against the hardness in his trousers.

“
Querida
,” he gasped when she broke the kiss.

He didn’t know what he was going to say next, for his thoughts dissolved into pleasure as her lips trailed over the scars on his cheek, lavishing the rough flesh with tender little kisses.

Then she gently brushed his hair to the side and took his earlobe in her mouth. Electric sensations riveted him at the feel of her teeth scraping the skin as she licked and sucked the sensitive area.

Rafe sucked in a breath and thrust against her, cursing the barrier between them. Cassandra’s hands caressed his chest, kisses gliding down his neck in a torrent of moist heat. She moved lower and he nearly came out of his skin as her tongue flicked across his nipple and her fingers stroked his hard length, straining through the fabric of his trousers.

With a small, unladylike growl, Cassandra fumbled with the fastenings, panting in desire and frustration. Rafe chuckled and removed the offending article, enjoying the way she licked her lips at the sight of his naked body. It seemed his countess had a naughty side. Rafe found he quite liked that.

As she straddled him and the tip of his cock slid into her tight, wet heat, he closed his eyes in bliss. She sank down, drawing him in with tantalizing slowness. Rafe felt like he’d gone to heaven. Cupping her breasts, he worshipped them with his mouth, his tongue circling her nipples and teasing the tiny firm peaks.

Cassandra gasped, clinging to him as she gyrated upon his stiff length. His mouth met hers, hands sliding down to grasp her hips, urging her to continue riding him with that delirious rhythm.

When he felt the tight spasms signaling the beginning of her climax, Rafe gripped her, thrusting even deeper. She cried out and rode him harder. Her tight sheath clenched tighter and faster as her pleasure peaked even higher.

His own climax began, roaring over him with such intensity that spots of light danced before his eyes. Unable to stop himself, Rafe pulled her down atop his chest and plunged his fangs into her neck, her essence filling his mouth as he came inside her.

Cassandra screamed his name. Her nails raked across his back. He could feel her orgasm crest a higher wave, feeding his own like potent fuel to form a resplendent conflagration. For a while, time ceased to exist. Only this moment mattered, this transcendental fusing of their bodies and souls.

Cassandra’s cries died down to low whimpers and she collapsed in his arms, quivering as the aftershocks continued to rack her body. Rafe withdrew his fangs and held her until her tremors subsided, and still he did not want to let her go.