Free Caressed by Night by Amanda J. Greene

to head down the hall.
    “Tell me what you are thinking.” His voice was hard, rough, and felt like silk against her skin.
    “Can’t you just read my mind?”
    “I would rather you share your thoughts with me.” She winced. Cross that question off the list.
    “If you need more time―”
    “I have questions.”
    Dimitri slowly nodded and moved to the side allowing Kerstyn to slip past him. He closed the doors and, for a heartbeat, they stood in complete darkness. Then candles began to flicker, casting their soft glow about the room as a fire sprang to life in the large hearth.
    Kerstyn jumped from the sudden change.
    “Did you do that?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
    “I can do many things.”
    “You said that earlier.”
    Dimitri stood, leaning his shoulders against the doors, watching Kerstyn as she walked through his room. She went toward the fireplace first, stepping around the couch and coffee table to stand before the heat. She traced the carvings of the marble mantel with her fingers as she studied the detail. Then she roamed across the rare Persian rug that covered the cool wood floors, passing his desk, his full bookshelf, and the door that led to the bathroom. She stepped around him, noting the chest of drawers in the corner by the entrance of the walk-in closet, and came to a halt at the foot of his bed. His heart fluttered in his chest. His body tensed.
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    “I already know you can control my mind and read my thoughts if you wanted.” She turned to face him. “What else can you do?”
    Her curiosity was cute, but dangerous.
    “It is a rather long list.”
    Kerstyn nodded. He’s very powerful, check .
    “Is ‘Dimitri’ your given name?”
    “No,” he answered flatly and she assumed by his tone that was the only information she would get. She was about to move on when he said, “I do not remember my true name. I do not remember my human life at all.”
    “So, you were human.”
    “Once,” he grated.
    She sat on the edge of his massive bed.
    Dimitri’s pulse spiked, his ice-blue eyes jumped with flames of desire. Kerstyn shifted, scooting further back on the mattress allowing her slippers to thud to the floor.
    Tearing his eyes from her, he focused on the fire directly before him, forcing himself to relax.
    “How are vampires made?”
    “Fledglings are created by the exchange of blood.” Kerstyn’s hand went up to her neck. The movement caused him to smile. Her mouth went dry as he flashed his canines and she rubbed her fingers over her pulse wondering what his lips would feel like as his fangs sank into her flesh.
    Dimitri hissed, “Please…do not.”
    “You said―”
    “It is hard to block your thoughts when they are screaming at me.”
    She blushed, her hand dropping to the black comforter.
    “Do you not want my blood?”
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    He stiffened. As did his cock from just hearing her say that word. He was glad he was wearing loose shorts.
    “Dimitri? Do you not―”
    “I have never wanted anything more.”
    Lustful shivers heated her body. That shouldn’t please me as much as it does , she thought.
    “You’re very strong,” she paused, choosing her words carefully. “Couldn’t you just take it?”
    Oh, good God. He ran shaking hands through his hair as his pupils dilated, then constricted. Images of their limbs entwined and his sheets bunched beneath them flashed before his eyes.
    “No, I would never. Not without permission,” he said, panting.
    Liquid heat pooled between Kerstyn’s thighs. She licked her lips. The soft glow of the fire danced over his torso, casting shadows on his muscled stomach. He looked delicious. She rubbed her palms over the comforter as they tingled with anticipation.
    Dimitri shoved himself away from the door. He had to get out.
    He had to get away from her. A good body-dropping, lust-destroying workout is what he needed before they continued this discussion.
    “Where are you going?”
    “The gym…for a run.”
    He spun and threw the