Night's Pleasure by Amanda Ashley

discovered otherwise, he would assume that one of the Undead had killed her father. It would be an easy thing for him to find out. A quick trip to the morgue after Savanah was asleep would tell him everything he needed to know. But whether the killer was mortal or Vampire, Rane intended to stay with Savanah tonight and every night until he was certain that whoever had killed her father hadn’t also marked her for death.
    â€œI don’t want to be alone tonight,” Savanah said, her voice little more than a whisper. “Will you stay with me?”
    â€œSure, darlin’, if that’s what you want. Go brush your teeth and put on your nightgown and call me when you’re done.” He winked at her. “And I’ll come and tuck you in.”
    Blinking back a fresh wave of tears, she slid off his lap. Retrieving her overnight case and her handbag, she went into the bedroom and closed the door. She unpacked her nightie, her robe and her toothbrush, and then went into the bathroom.
    Were the police still at her house, searching for clues? Would they be able to gather enough evidence to find and arrest whoever had killed her father? The culprit had ransacked the house from top to bottom, but as near as she could tell, nothing was missing. What had the intruder been looking for?
    With a shake of her head, she splashed cold water on her face, then brushed her teeth. She had packed the most modest nightie she owned, a plain white cotton gown that fell to midcalf. She slipped it on and then brushed out her hair. Going into the bedroom, she crawled under the covers, and then she called Rane.
    He appeared in the doorway as if by magic. She knew it was only her imagination, but his presence seemed to fill the room.
    â€œThey were looking for something,” Savanah said. “Whoever killed him was looking for something.”
    â€œAny idea what it was?”
    â€œNo. We don’t keep anything valuable in the house.” She smiled faintly. “Not that we have anything of value to anyone else. Oh, Rane, they killed him for nothing.”
    â€œTry not to think about it now.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, he bent down and kissed her cheek. “Get some rest. I’ll be nearby.”
    She grabbed his hand when he started to rise. “Don’t go.”
    He gazed at her for stretched seconds, then nodded. “All right.” He took off his shoes and socks, removed his shirt, and slid under the covers.
    Savanah scooted closer. “Hold me.”
    Muttering an oath, Rane put his arm around her and drew her against his side. Did she know what she was asking? Did she expect him to lie there beside her, to breathe in the warm, womanly scent of her body, listen to the siren call of her blood, and do nothing? Of course she did. She had no idea what kind of monster she had invited into her bed. He fought for control as the predator within him stirred, sharpening his senses, urging him to take her. His tongue brushed his fangs as his innate lust for blood sprang to life. Each indrawn breath only added to his desire. Drinking from her would satisfy him on so many levels; he would revel in the sounds of her sighs as he seduced her, in the heat of her flesh warming his own, the enticing smell of her surrender, the rich taste of her life’s essence pouring sweetly over his tongue…
    He swore again as she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. A moment later, he felt the dampness of her tears on his skin.
    Her trust routed the beast within him as effectively as if she had splashed holy water in his face.
    Drawing her closer, he kissed her cheek. “Go to sleep, darlin’,” he whispered. “There won’t be any bad dreams tonight.”
    â€œMake love to me, Rane.”
    â€œSavanah…”
    â€œPlease make love to me, Rane. Make me forget…everything.”
    He wasn’t surprised or shocked by her request. It was common enough in times of