Caressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene Page A

had plenty of chances―”
    “Dimitri would never harm you, but I’m not warning you about the man. The vampire, the demon that lives within him, is dangerous and unpredictable. It can’t be trusted. Do you understand?” Kerstyn’s breath caught as another electric wave flowed through her. Images of blood, death, and fire flickered before her eyes.
    Villages burned, children screamed, women begged for their lives. Her stomach clenched, a cold sweat breaking out over her brow. She closed her eyes, trying to shut out the pale faces of the dead.
    “That is what the demon is capable of if set free.”
    “Did he do―” She wouldn’t finish her words. Kerstyn could not envision Dimitri cutting down women or draining the blood of children as they cried for their lives.
    “No, I showed you what others just like him had done.” Kerstyn dropped her head, her breath coming in gasps. When she had been getting ready to meet Silvie, she had thought that her life would go back to normal with the exception of a vampire boyfriend, but now she was positive the word "normal" would never again grace her vocabulary.
    “I know this is a lot to digest. I’m sorry. I wish there was a different way. An easier way for all this to happen.” Kerstyn lifted her head, her eyes meeting Silvie’s. Tears made the witch’s dark eyes glisten.
    “He has waited centuries for you, Kerstyn.”
    Silvie’s fingers slipped away and the coffee shop came back to life. The customers’ voices stung Kerstyn’s ears, the lights made her eyes water, and the scent of coffee was so strong she had to resist the urge to gag.
    “What just happened? What did you do?”
    “We needed privacy for our discussion,” Silvie said, wiping at her eyes. “Don’t worry. You will feel better in a few seconds.” 74

    “I wouldn’t bet money on it.”
    Silvie smiled and raised her coffee to her lips. She watched as Kerstyn’s eyes slowly widened in amazement. Her nausea had vanished, her vision cleared, and her pulse immediately returned to normal.
    “Feel better?”
    “This is all too much.”
    “Try not to overthink it, you’ll only get a headache.”
    “That would be the least of my problems. First, there was the whole thing with Denise and the rest of my unbelievable bad luck.
    Then, the guy I’m crushing on turns out to be a vampire. Now, my friend is a witch and has just warned me not to trust the man I just slept with.”
    Kerstyn blushed. She knew the news would shock her friends.
    There were few boyfriends in her past, no one really worth remembering, certainly no one worth giving up her virginity for. They had all been nice, but all lacked the sexual intensity Dimitri possessed.
    She had never felt so drawn to a man. When he was around, her temperature spiked, her heart slammed in her chest, and all she could think about was their naked bodies entwined in his silk sheets. He was the first man she had ever physically and emotionally wanted. Needed.
    Craved.
    Maybe it’s because he’s a vampire. Maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to him .
    “I knew the instant you made the decision. As did Dimitri.” A jolt of realization struck Kerstyn. Dimitri had tried to leave the second after she decided she wanted to make love to him. Her choice had changed their future. Well, duh , she chided herself.
    “I’m happy you have finally found a worthy man.”
    “You’re not shocked that I slept with a guy I barely know?” Silvie shook her head and took a swig of her now cool coffee.
    She was not surprised to hear they had mated. As a pure vampire, Dimitri was sex personified and any woman with a bit of sense would fall into his bed. He tried to mask his allure, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself. But Kerstyn was not like other women. She 75

    was his intended. Kerstyn was the one woman immune to his blocks.
    She felt his pure seductive draw. It sang to her and lured her into his dark, unforgiving world and his bed.
    “Are you?” Silvie