Heat rose from the sand, and the sun seared her from above. She felt the weight of a hand resting on her stomach and looked over to see Kasabian lying on a towel next to her. He smiled, and her heart flipped over. When she thought he would say something endearing, he said, “You shouldn’t want me kissing you anywhere.” Huh? Suddenly the beach lurched sideways, and he threw his arm out to try to keep her from falling forward. Her eyes opened, and she gasped at the sudden change of scenery. Nothing was moving now. And she wasn’t on the beach but on the floor of her living room. Vlad was reclining on the top of the sofa watching her. The weight of the hand on her stomach was real, though. Kasabian’s arm lay across her. She visually followed that arm to his bare shoulder, his ethereal wings. A faint current of energy pulsed over him, casting a glimmer across his skin. She felt it flow from his hand into her.
