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She knew the sensation would pass, but for just a moment, as she heard the distant shower wind up, she let herself enjoy the fantasy. If she stayed with Marius, she’d get to have sex with him a lot, and probably make babies, and live out her life with him. She’d meet his brothers, Adrien and Lucian, both of whom had already bonded with human women. Her children would have aunts and uncles.
She turned on her side and stared at the waterfall. The rock behind glittered and a soft light below created a kaleidoscope of images.
She laughed at herself for thinking about vampires and making babies.
Fortunately the hormones began to fade and reality began to return in quick whips of time.
She had a life to get back to in Seattle, a doctorate to complete, students to teach, a dissertation to write, and fieldwork in Malaysia. She was on a good strong path, one fit for her. Her time with Marius was just a dream, something to be valued and treasured always, but not her life.
She wasn’t a vampire and she needed to keep reminding herself of that truth. She also had the last part of the extinction weapon to locate. And maybe this time, her visions would be pure.
She lifted her arm and slowly began unknotting the cords at her wrists, then her ankles. The shower shut off and she slipped from bed, gathering up her dress at the same time.
She felt Marius’s tension now and knew that his thoughts had turned in a similar direction to her own.
She met him in the doorway. He had a towel wrapped around his hips, water beaded between his heavy pecs and dripping from his hair.
He said only one word. “Daniel.”
“I know. I’m thinking the same thing.”
He shook his head. “I just don’t want you to think this wasn’t … extraordinary, because it was.”
She put a hand on his cheek. “You don’t have to explain. I think we’re both in the same place. We have a job to do and I have a life to return to.”
“And even if we get the weapon, we’ve only staved off Daniel’s ambitions. The use of the weapon would have secured his domination of this world as well as his intention to take over yours. But the absence of the weapon wouldn’t have ended his driving madness. One way or the other, I will still have a boatload of work to do.”
She nodded. “I’m with you, Marius, one hundred percent. I know we have something special between us, but it makes no sense to even think about having a future together. And right now, I need my shower.”
She moved past him, set her clothes on top of a nearby hamper, and walked into yet another massive shower. The thought went through her mind that maybe it had been built for orgies, but then someone like Marius, as big as he was, would take up at least half the space.
She smiled as she flipped on three of the seven showerheads. Once the water was flowing, she thought what the hell and turned on the rest.
* * *
Shayna couldn’t know it, but Marius hadn’t budged an inch from where she’d left him in the bathroom doorway. First, he’d watched her move in the direction of the shower, enjoying her narrow waist and full hips, the sensual movement of her bottom. Afterward, he’d remained leaning against the door frame, sensing her enjoyment of the shower and all that water beating on her body from every direction.
He was in deep shit with this woman.
He understood that now.
Maybe if he hadn’t made love to her just now, all bound up by the silk cords, he wouldn’t be feeling this way. But he’d never known this kind of intimacy with a woman before and his soul longed for more. His heart actually ached at the thought she would leave and never return, that she could be content on any level with her life as an anthropologist apart from him.
Her voice pierced his mind suddenly. Hey, what’s going on? You feel really sad right now.
Just ignore it. He paused before adding quietly, Please.
No problem.
The last thing he wanted to do was to talk about any of this. He just wanted to get on
with things and see if they couldn’t locate and seize the extinction weapon. Then he could take her back to Seattle and leave her there. He could return to his job as an anti-Daniel activist without having to worry about her safety or how he could keep from falling in love with her more than he already had.
He finally left the doorway, disgusted that he’d let his emotions get away from him. He let Shayna know that he was heading back to her bedroom to get dressed and that when she was done with her shower, he’d come back to get her.
Sounds good. She sounded cheerful enough, but he sensed her own disquiet, an inner conflict over their recent lovemaking against the reality of their situation.
Once he’d donned battle leathers with the intention of having Shayna access her tracking ability again, he used his phone and contacted Rumy.
