VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 14

Patrick put away the decanter of blood and made his way out of his study. He was restless, and he knew the cause was the woman sleeping away the day in his bed chamber upstairs.

Violet. The thought of her brought a smile to his lips. After last nights pleasurable diversions he had been loath to wake her, but his patience was running thin. He had predicted that once would not be enough with her, but the intensity of his desire for her surprised him.

Lifting the full glass to his lips, he drank. Blood washed down his tongue and flooded his stomach. Instantly, the vague headache that had begun to form late last night, disappeared.

She had been a virgin! He still couldn't quite believe it. Violet had kissed him the very first time they met and followed him home with not a single protest, so how could he have guessed?

"Hell, no one would have guessed," Patrick muttered to himself as he moved behind his table and set his glass down.

Only a few minutes had passed before a loud shriek from above stairs had him running for the door.

"Oh, oh my Lord," Mrs. Devon came down the steps just as he reached them. "I'm so very sorry, I had assumed that she... that the lady would be gone by now."

Patrick ignored his house keeper's remorse and ran up the stairs. The sight that greeted him as he stepped inside the room, wiped all the concern off of his face.

Violet was sitting in the middle of his big bed, her luscious hair strewn every-which way, her body naked under the white sheet that she had pulled up over her breasts. She did not look in the least frightened, and Patrick had a sneaky suspicion that the shriek had come from Mrs. Devon's lips rather than his gypsy's.

"She is quite an excitable lady."

His laughter filled the room, as Patrick closed the bedroom door and moved forward, "Good morning, sweetheart."

The pink tinge that appeared in her cheeks was the most adorable thing. How did this woman manage to be so forward and yet so shy at the same time?

"I did not mean to stay the night. I do hope it was no inconvenience for you..." Her voice trailed off as the bed dipped under his weight.

"Your presence here is everything but inconvenient sweetheart." Patrick grinned as her lips parted in understanding.

"I should probably be getting back, we have an early performance this evening."

Holding a strand of her black hair between his fingers, Patrick considered. So, she wanted to run? He supposed that was an appropriate reaction for someone who had been a virgin only a few hours ago. Maybe he should step aside and let her go. Give her time to digest what had happened between them.

Watching Violet tip her chin in a defiant gesture, he almost snorted. There wasn't a chance in hell he was letting this gorgeous woman get away.

"Good, since you don't have to be there for a few hours yet, that should give us some time to get to know each other."

"Get to know each other?" She backed away ever so slightly. Patrick let go of her hair in exchange for cupping her neck.

"Yes," he whispered the word as he brushed his lips against hers once, twice and then once more. Her lips were so sweet, so warm and soft.

"Okay," she was kissing him back now, "but only for a little while."

Patrick smiled against her mouth, read to lose himself in her warmth when she pulled back. 

"So, what is your full name?"

Her sudden change in demeanour caught him off guard. Violet moved back further, propping her back against his headboard and curling her legs under the sheets. She looked for all the world like she was about to listen to a good story.