Night's Surrender by Amanda Ashley Page B

women they loved to marry them? She had heard their courtship stories. No long engagements for any of them.
    Thunder rumbled in the distance as they drew closer to the cottage. Not wanting to be caught in the rain, Abbey urged Freckles into a trot. They reached the barn a short time later.
    Dismounting, Abbey led the mare into the barn.
    Nick followed her.
    Side by side, they unsaddled the horses. Abbey passed Nick a brush and they spent several minutes grooming the mares. Abbey was acutely aware of Nick beside her. She loved watching the play of muscles in his back and shoulders as he ran the dandy brush over the mare’s sleek coat, the way a lock of hair fell over his brow as he stroked the brush down the mare’s legs, the way his jeans stretched over his taut buttocks. Oh, yeah, she had it bad.
    Her cheeks felt like they were on fire when he caught her staring. His lips curved in a knowing smile.
    He tossed the brush into the box at his feet, then reached for her. Eyes wide, Abbey looked up at him, her heart pounding like a wild thing as his arms enfolded her. She released a deep, shuddering breath as his gaze searched hers.
    â€œAbbey?”
    With a sigh, she leaned into him, closed her eyes as he lowered his head to press kisses to her cheeks, her brow, the curve of her throat.
    â€œIt’s been a long time since I made love in a hayloft,” he murmured, nibbling her earlobe.
    â€œI guess you’ll have to wait a while longer,” she retorted, although the thought of climbing into the loft and making love to Nick was tempting indeed.
    â€œI guess you want to be courted first.”
    â€œCourted?” Taking a deep breath, she smiled up at him. “That’s an old-fashioned concept.”
    â€œWell, I’m an old-fashioned guy.”
    â€œVery old.”
    He laughed softly as he put her away from him. “I can wait until you’re ready.” Untying the mare, he led her into a stall and closed the door.
    â€œNick . . .”
    â€œIt’s all right, love.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek. “I’ll see you tonight.”
    Abbey stared after him as he left the barn, wondering how much longer she would be able to resist the blatant desire in his eyes, the yearning of her own body. She reminded herself that they were still strangers in many ways, but it didn’t help. Right or wrong, whether she had known him for a week or a year, she would always want him.
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    A thought took Nick home. Though he would miss being close to Abbey while at rest, staying in the shack no longer seemed wise now that her father knew he’d been there. He couldn’t hide from Mara, of course, but she had no reason to come looking for him. And even if she did, the threshold would, hopefully, prevent her from entering uninvited. Of course, she might be able to compel him to go to her. But it seemed unlikely.
    After taking a shower, he changed into a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt, pulled on a pair of boots, and went into the city. Dark clouds covered the sun, turning the day to night. The rain fell in a steady drizzle.
    He hadn’t hunted in several days. The hunger grew inside him, an aching need that burned like fire in his veins. He hadn’t lost control in centuries, but with Abbey in his life, it wasn’t a risk he was willing to take.
    Oblivious to the weather, he strolled the downtown streets in search of prey, bypassing the elderly, the sick, the very young. His prey of choice had always been women in their late twenties or early thirties.
    The sidewalks emptied as the rain fell harder. Thunder rumbled across the skies. Lightning split the heavens, filling the air with the smell of ozone.
    Ducking into an upscale bar, he found an empty booth in the back and ordered a glass of wine.
    The room was rapidly filling with shoppers seeking shelter from the downpour. He scanned the room and selected his prey—a dark-haired woman sitting alone near