backs of his cool fingers down her cheek, his lips hinting at a smile. “Good.”
Kate tilted her chin up. When he bent and brushed his lips against hers, her breath caught. Her pulse raced and electricity shot through her veins. Her skin warmed. Had she ever wanted anyone this badly?
She brought her hand to his chest. His chiseled muscles responded to her touch, and a moan escaped her as he clutched her tighter. Calisto’s fingers slid through her hair, and her lips parted, her tongue tasting him, tangling with his until her knees buckled.
Dear God, this man could kiss.
Gradually she drew back, softening the kiss until her forehead rested against his. She stared into his eyes, wishing she knew his thoughts. Wishing she understood what it was about this man that made passion ignite through her bloodstream like wildfire.
Her pulse throbbed in her ears, and she took a small step back.
She tried to remember the list of things she still needed to finish at her parents’ place, and her job back in Reno. Anything to regain control of herself.
Real life didn’t involve rich, exotic bachelors on private beaches.
She fought to think of the music she loved, to recall the pain she felt when she walked into Tom’s office three weeks ago. She needed to protect her wounded heart and fight the growing attraction to the man who made her body ache for his attention.
He reached for her hand, and her fingers entwined with his.
Traitors.
§
He watched her face as they walked down the beach together.
He had to concentrate to keep from dragging her back into his arms. Until he kissed her, he hadn’t understood the true depth of his 80 LISA KESSLER
loneliness, but now that he’d held her again, tasted her lips, he couldn’t let her go.
For the first time in centuries, he felt content and alive.
Until Kate pulled away from him.
He wanted to understand her, but he wouldn’t allow himself to look into her thoughts. Limiting himself to the speech of a mortal man proved difficult.
He was out of practice.
“You are quiet.”
“Sorry. We shouldn’t have done that. I... ” She shook her head and watched the waves. “I have no business jumping into a relationship right now, and I have no interest in being a one-night stand either. If I gave you the wrong impression, I’m sorry about that.”
“I did not mean to rush anything.”
“You didn’t. I kissed you back.” She sighed and finally looked up at him. “I’m probably going back to Reno soon anyway. The last thing I need right now is more drama.”
“Do you have anyone waiting for you there?” The question surprised him. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. It hadn’t occurred to him until this moment that Kate might be in love with someone else.
Jealousy curdled in his stomach while he waited for her to answer.
“Not anymore.”
Her answer didn’t relieve him as much as he hoped it would.
“We were going to get married until I caught him fooling around with one of his grad students. That’s why I came back to San Diego. I needed time away. A change of scenery, you know?” She shook her head with a sigh. “It’s been an awful month for me.”
“He was a fool to let you go.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“I wish I had more comfort to offer than words.” The suffering he saw reflected in her gaze tore at his heart. Cold fury churned inside him. He wanted to know who hurt her, and he wanted to cause him pain.
Slow, lingering pain.
“Why are you being kind to me?” she asked, jarring him from his Night Walker 81
thoughts.
“What?”
She shook her head. “I just want to understand what’s going on here. I looked you up online. I know you’re one of San Diego’s most eligible bachelors. You could have anyone.” He scowled. “Who I could have is of no importance.”
“No, it’s very important to me. I was naïve once, and I got burned.
I’m not looking for another heartbreak.” Calisto stared into her beautiful
Kate tilted her chin up. When he bent and brushed his lips against hers, her breath caught. Her pulse raced and electricity shot through her veins. Her skin warmed. Had she ever wanted anyone this badly?
She brought her hand to his chest. His chiseled muscles responded to her touch, and a moan escaped her as he clutched her tighter. Calisto’s fingers slid through her hair, and her lips parted, her tongue tasting him, tangling with his until her knees buckled.
Dear God, this man could kiss.
Gradually she drew back, softening the kiss until her forehead rested against his. She stared into his eyes, wishing she knew his thoughts. Wishing she understood what it was about this man that made passion ignite through her bloodstream like wildfire.
Her pulse throbbed in her ears, and she took a small step back.
She tried to remember the list of things she still needed to finish at her parents’ place, and her job back in Reno. Anything to regain control of herself.
Real life didn’t involve rich, exotic bachelors on private beaches.
She fought to think of the music she loved, to recall the pain she felt when she walked into Tom’s office three weeks ago. She needed to protect her wounded heart and fight the growing attraction to the man who made her body ache for his attention.
He reached for her hand, and her fingers entwined with his.
Traitors.
§
He watched her face as they walked down the beach together.
He had to concentrate to keep from dragging her back into his arms. Until he kissed her, he hadn’t understood the true depth of his 80 LISA KESSLER
loneliness, but now that he’d held her again, tasted her lips, he couldn’t let her go.
For the first time in centuries, he felt content and alive.
Until Kate pulled away from him.
He wanted to understand her, but he wouldn’t allow himself to look into her thoughts. Limiting himself to the speech of a mortal man proved difficult.
He was out of practice.
“You are quiet.”
“Sorry. We shouldn’t have done that. I... ” She shook her head and watched the waves. “I have no business jumping into a relationship right now, and I have no interest in being a one-night stand either. If I gave you the wrong impression, I’m sorry about that.”
“I did not mean to rush anything.”
“You didn’t. I kissed you back.” She sighed and finally looked up at him. “I’m probably going back to Reno soon anyway. The last thing I need right now is more drama.”
“Do you have anyone waiting for you there?” The question surprised him. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer. It hadn’t occurred to him until this moment that Kate might be in love with someone else.
Jealousy curdled in his stomach while he waited for her to answer.
“Not anymore.”
Her answer didn’t relieve him as much as he hoped it would.
“We were going to get married until I caught him fooling around with one of his grad students. That’s why I came back to San Diego. I needed time away. A change of scenery, you know?” She shook her head with a sigh. “It’s been an awful month for me.”
“He was a fool to let you go.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“I wish I had more comfort to offer than words.” The suffering he saw reflected in her gaze tore at his heart. Cold fury churned inside him. He wanted to know who hurt her, and he wanted to cause him pain.
Slow, lingering pain.
“Why are you being kind to me?” she asked, jarring him from his Night Walker 81
thoughts.
“What?”
She shook her head. “I just want to understand what’s going on here. I looked you up online. I know you’re one of San Diego’s most eligible bachelors. You could have anyone.” He scowled. “Who I could have is of no importance.”
“No, it’s very important to me. I was naïve once, and I got burned.
I’m not looking for another heartbreak.” Calisto stared into her beautiful
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