Free Eternal War Rising to the South: The Beynok Vampire Series by Erika Bradshaw Page B

see you’re fine,” he said. This time, my body assured me he was not my imagination. My heart pulsed in every direction, taking me to a place I tried not to go with him. I had been so relaxed when I walked out onto my balcony, and he came upon me so quickly my guard was down allowing his emotions to saturate me completely. I tried to pull my guard up, but his passion for me quickly swayed it into sedation. I was going to have to take back my body … somehow.
    “You can’t be here. I told myself the next time I saw you I’d be more prepared to kill you but I’m too tired right now. I’ve had two long days.” I knew my swords were on the nightstand, and I’d reach for them if I had the chance. Do I want to kill him? Of course, I do. “We shouldn’t … even be close like this. Why are you stalking me? Please tell me what you want from me.”
    I could feel his breath, “I know you’ve been searching for something, and so have I, but we don’t have to search anymore.” His mouth was slowly moving along my cheek as he talked. “We both found what we are looking for … each other. You’ll see.”
    I wanted to give in, turn around, and wrap my arms around his neck. I just couldn’t. It wasn’t right. The emotional battle I was fighting was confusing me to hell. I felt his cool hands run up my arms to my shoulders and down to my waistline. The decision was no longer mine to make. He spun me around, forcing me to face him. The spin was rough and purposely so. I could sense his needing desire for me.
    I struggled to speak, “I refuse to open my eyes and look at you. If I see you, then you’ll be real. If I keep them closed, you’ll just be a dream … my imagination.” I felt him pull my face up to his with one of his hands, leaving the other securely around my waist.
    His lavender smell was overwhelming my senses…Everything about him was overwhelming. When we were close like this, I can’t seem to think straight. I can’t focus. I wanted to wrap my body around his and stay entwined together forever. I wanted to feel his arms collapse around me and take me in. I wanted to feel the security he offered. The security I’d thought I never needed, never wanted.
    He said, “Anya, you have dreamt of me. I know you have. I know you remember me. The night in the field, you were looking for me as much as I was looking for you,” and he kissed me. I felt his tongue run over my lips forcing them open to allow him in, and I did. His tongue ran over mine, and it felt so good I had to react. His body embraced mine with its strength, the tension and weight from my body evaporated, and I melted into his arms. What a stupid girl I was. Our kiss was so intense I felt the world stop. He pulled my body close to his with one hand and held my face gently with the other. He ran his thumb along my jaw line caressing it. This felt good…to good and to natural.
    Our kiss was interrupted by a vision in my head. I was in Sorin’s arms kissing him as I was tonight, but not on my balcony. We were in the Altay Mountains. It was me from my past rise to the east. I was sure of it. Sorin looked the same except his hair was chin length. In the vision, there was no sign of a struggle from me. I was as willing to kiss him then as I was in the present.
    The vision abruptly ended and so did the kiss. I didn’t feel Sorin’s arms around me or his hand at my face. My body collapsed against the balcony railing and I opened my eyes to look at him for the first time tonight, but he was not there. He was not with me, but he was near. I could feel him, not only with my gift of sense but also with my body. I put myself at ease saying time was the answer to all the strange dreams, visions, and emotions I was experiencing lately. I went inside and fell asleep knowing he was close, and for some reason, it didn’t bother me. It soothed me.

8 - Sense of Intrusion
    We lived through another night without an attack, thank God. I bounced down the stairs