A ripple of pleasure went through her as his warm fingers brushed against her throat gently. It was also soothing, especially after the vile touch of the rogue vampire. Her skin absorbed the salve and within minutes, any remaining soreness was alleviated. They were in his kitchen, Lydia perched on a stool next to a marble island. He slid open a drawer and extracted a mirror. “Look.” There were no cuts on her skin, just a pink mark that looked like a hickie. “That’s amazing.” She met his gaze. “Thanks.” He gave a brief nod. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been exposed to any danger.” A muscle clenched in his jaw. “It’s never happened before.” She lifted her shoulders. “It’s not your fault.” She put the mirror on the counter. The dark current circled them again, tighter this time. The intensity of his gaze drew hers, locking it. He reached out and brushed his hand across her cheek, a sensual caress that shot down to her toes. Then a shadow crossed his face and his hand dropped away .
