“Stop him, stop this, she commanded herself. Reason floated away; she wanted him. If he walked away now, she might disintegrate into a pile of frustration as fragile as the leaves crumbling under foot. His lips touched hers, shooting electric shock waves rippling to her toes. Then he claimed her with a torrid kiss. Passion welled up from her core, overpowering all thought except her desires.”

“When we wake, it’s officially Christmas Eve.” “Good. Because I have something special to give you.” She turned over her shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. “Thought you just did.” He chuckled, a deep and throaty sound. “Something else.”

“Better undead than dead.”

“Nothing would keep him from loving her. She was everything he wanted. She was his.”

“They’d stolen his life.And rebirthed him as a monster.”

“I’d be careful about watching me too closely.”“Why?” She smiled to match the sassy tone in her voice.The smirk that had lingered on his face dropped away, replaced by a serious expression. “You might not like what you see.”

“Look at me, Regina.”She glanced up at him, appearing tiny. He stood almost a foot taller than her in his boots while she wore flats, which looked like ballet shoes. His palms heated and his heartbeat raced. Her scent that had teased him from afar now tormented him up close. God, he wanted to wrap himself in that scent, bury himself deep inside her.”

“Cameron’s mind registered what the rest of him already knew. He was insane about this woman, and he’d do anything to be with her, anything to protect her. She’d become his world. How it had happened, he didn’t know, but it had.”

“It was time to take what he wanted. And what he wanted was her.”

“I like solitude.”“Doesn’t seem to fit with the personality of a rock guitarist.”“Let me tell you a secret.” He leaned forward. “My stage persona is not who I am at all.”Gina realized she had completely stopped painting while listening, enraptured with what he had to say. “What are you then?”He gave her a mischievous grin that reached his eyes. “Right now, I’m just a guy standing in front of a pretty girl who makes his pulse race.”

“She took a deep breath and peered up from under her long, dark lashes. He sucked air in. Damn, that look could undo any man – or wolf, or alien for that matter. “Something to eat?” “No, Cameron.” She smiled with a hint of decadence. “There’s only one thing I need.” “What’s that?” She closed the space between them and grabbed the collar of his shirt with both hands, pulling him closer. “You.”