Stealing Magic (Vampire Primes) by Susan Sizemore

side table where a pitcher and water bowl stood. Washcloths, towels, and soap were arranged on shelves below. When she returned to the bedside, she was surprised to discover that Julien had not only unbuttoned his shirt, but had stripped himself naked in the few seconds it had taken her to gather what she needed.
    “Oh, my!”
    He grabbed the bowl as it dropped from her grasp, placing it on the bedside table. Not a bit of water was spilled. Vampires could certainly move fast.
    “You seem to be feeling better,” she said, not looking at him as she spoke.
    Julien groaned as he lay back on the pile of pillows. “Showing off,” he said. “Shouldn’t have done that.”
    “Stay still,” she said. She looked down, and made her assessment a clinical one. He had a round bruise from the head of the silver cane on one narrow hip, a cut along his right ribcage. The remains of a cut, she decided. There was a streak of dried blood on his pale skin, but the cut seemed to have already healed. She glanced at the cut on his face and saw it was also mending.
    “It was the blows to my head and back that did the most damage,” he said. “And all the psychic energy I’ve had to use when I likely had a concussion. Silver does more damage than steel to folk like me. Oh, poor, pitiful me,” he added, and they both laughed.
    She dipped a cloth in soapy water and began to wash off the blood. By the time she was finished her would-be lover was fast asleep.
    Grace smiled tenderly as she stepped back to look at him. He was as pale as a marble statue, and as perfectly proportioned as any Greek masterpiece. The black hair on his chest and below accentuated his masculine perfection. She was tempted, very tempted to touch and stroke every inch of him, especially his phallus. She wanted to know what it would be like hard and erect.
    She would just have to wait to find out. In the meantime, Grace took off her layers of clothes and climbed into bed beside Julien, as naked as he was.
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Chapter Nine
    Hot. Sweet. Fiery. All at once. Delicious dream spinning her slowly up and up and—
    “Tickles!”
    Grace tried to curl into a ball, and woke up to the realization that there were fingers brushing across her abdomen. Not only did it tickle, it sent a wave of warmth deep inside her.
    She rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. And there was Julien, looking down at her, a teasing smile on his lips, his eyes showing both amusement and desire.
    “I am sorry,” he told her. “No gentleman, Prime or mortal, should ignore the safety of a brave young woman.”
    “What?”
    He kissed her bare shoulder. “There is a bruise there. I shall kiss it and make it better.” Another kiss.
    Grace arched with pleasure. “Do that again.”
    He kissed the base of her throat, then a spot above her left breast. “I need to make sure you are not hurt. I shall examine every inch of your body. It is my duty.”
    Grace stretched out with her arms over head. “Examine away. I would never stop a gentleman from doing his duty.”
    Julien took his time. His fingers and lips moved over her with gentleness that left fire all over her skin and need deep in her belly. Grace moaned, her fists curling tightly on the pillows. His lips touched her hard nipple. He suckled it, then drew it into her mouth.
    “I—I don’ t think there are any—bruises there, my lo—oh my!”
    I can certainly arrange that, his amused voice spoke in her mind.
    A fang penetrated the soft, sensitive skin of her breast. Pleasure blazed through all her senses as he tasted her blood.
    He lifted his head and gazed into her eyes. “You are sweet as honey, sharp as iron. Delicious. I could taste you all night.”
    Being tasted all night would be heaven. “Lovely. But could you make love to me, too?” she asked. “I’ve waited for you—a man like you—all my life.”
    “Such a young and innocent life.”
    “I think it is past time to forego the innocent part, Julien.” She ran her fingers