The Vampire And His Lady (Silver Hills #2)

Chapter 12

The knock on the door made Diana jump, even though she'd been expecting it

She shut her eyes tight and wished that everything would be alright, just as she used to as a child, and when she opened them again she called out "come in."

She hadn't been prepared... not one bit. Not to see Thornwood walk through the door, with his long dark hair and piercing crimson eyes. Not to hear him mutter her name- "Diana"- as soft and gentle as he'd always been. The memories of them claws at her brain, making the fact that she knew part of their story was missing, like a puzzle without the final piece, even more painful.

"Diana," Thornwood muttered again, his lips as familiar to her as the back of her hands. She wanted to run up and kiss him, to lay in the circle of his arms, hearing no heartbeat but knowing that his heart lay in his chest and that it belonged to her entirely.

She wanted to love Thornwood again. But now she was engaged, and it felt like they were a world apart.

He might not want me anymore, she considered. So much had changed, and I was harsh with him back at Silver Hills. He probably despises me.

All thoughts left her head when he approached her bedside, a strange fire in his eyes, and collapsed onto his knees.

Diana could do little more than stare in horror as he reached out for her hand, the touch of his bare skin sending a jolt through her body, and clasped it tightly in his own.

His face bent down towards it, and Diana only knew what was happening when he gently pressed his lips against the palm of her hands. The smart, sensible, thing to do would be to pull away and recoil from the vampire. But as she felt his lips part and his fangs brush against her skin, a shudder went through her, and she thought she could recall days where she used to live for those touches.

"Is it true?" Thornwood whispered in a broken voice, sounding as dead as he truly was. "You remember." His spoke with his lips still against her hand, sending shock waves through her.

"Yes." Diana was shocked at how cold and distant her voice sounded, even to her. I am such a fool, she thought, her mind wandering, yet again, to Henry. "We'll, that's not exactly true. I only remember up to  the masquerade, and what happened last summer."

His eyes went cold, like the fire had been extinguished, as icy rage replaced the love she had seen shining in the crimson. "You can hardly have good memories of me then. We were hardly kind to each other, back in the day."

She wanted to tell him that, deep inside, she had felt drawn to him since the day they met. Diana wasn't entirely sure if that was the truth, or just what she wanted to tell herself, but either way it seemed like the right way to comfort Thornwood. Especially when he looked so desolate.

"You saved my life," she mentioned. "I think that makes up for the fact I had to witness you snogging my sister!" She made a sick sound in the back of her throat, the very memory making her bones feel like jelly.

He laughed slightly, though his face was less than amused. "You were a much better kisser, Diana Thorpe. The best one I ever locked lips with."

A smile tugged at Diana's mouth. "You didn't need to make it sound so creepy."

"What about you?" Thornwood persisted. "Am I still your favourite kisser?"

It seemed a strange question to ask, and the tone of his voice- so serious, as if it were the make or break question- made Diana want to lie.

Her voice was equally as serious as she told me "no. Henry is... Henry is exceptional. At most things. Even when he isn't as... as passionate as you-" that was one way to describe the fire and fury with which Thornwood loved- "he does everything in an expert way. Including kissing."