in her studio, but her mind wasn’t on work, nor was it on whether or not the phone would be ringing anytime soon.
“Hello, Kylie? This is Cianán.”
A smile appeared at hearing his voice. “Hi.” She tried to sound cheerful.
“Good afternoon, an’ how are ye today?”
“I’m okay, and you?”
“I’m fine, thank ye.” Silence filled the line briefly. “Are ye sure you’re all right? I detect a bit o’ sadness in your voice.”
“I guess I can’t hide it, huh?”
“What’s the problem?”
“I just received some bad news about a . . . friend, but I’ll be all right.”
“Are ye certain? We can ‘ave dinner ‘nother time, if ye like.”
“No, tonight will be fine, unless you’re trying to back out?”
He laughed. “I’d like nothing more than to have dinner with ye this eve.”
“Then I guess you’re taking me to dinner.”
“I s’pose I am. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I look forward to it.”
“As do I.”
“I suppose you’ll want to know where to pick me up?”
“That’d help.”
She laughed and gave him directions to her house. When she hung up, she realized she wasn’t so sad anymore. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was about Cianán that brought a smile to her face. She didn’t get that wonderful feeling like she did with Grant, yet there was definitely something there. The comment he’d made—asking her if she believed in destiny—came to mind. She wondered if he was her destiny.
“Oh, that’s just crazy. It’s probably just because he’s a foreigner with a cool name.” But the smile remained on her face. She thought about the night before and the way he looked at her. The way he spoke to her—to her, not at her, nor at her chest. She’d learned over the years to tell the difference, and they’d both spoken to her that way.
Perhaps Grant was the one she was destined to be with, when she recalled the incredible energy she’d felt with his touch. She shook her head, chuckling under her breath. Grant was a hottie with a cool name. Finally, she stood and walked back to Grant’s painting to finish what she’d started.
Cianán paced his luxurious Empressina suite, thinking about Kylie. She could be his Chosen One, but he had to be certain. He needed to know if she wore the mark upon her flesh, but it was obviously in a place not easily seen.
He could have taken her last night, fed on that precious lifeblood of hers, but it wouldn’t help him in the end. He didn’t normally romance his prey; he’d take enough time to locate, study, and then harvest them. He never thought he’d be in a situation long enough to find which color they favored most. He knew what worked well for each. There were ones with strong motherly instincts. For them, he took the form of a lost child. The expression on their faces when he revealed his true self was a sufficient reward. Then there were all those young men who wanted nothing more than to become intimate with the woman (or man) of their dreams. Those were only too easy and not nearly as enjoyable. But, what he fancied most was his ability to play the role of predator in the animal world, although his prey was of the human persuasion. Sometimes, he’d soar high above like an eagle swooping down to pluck his unsuspecting prey from their poor miserable lives. Other times, he’d use the sly tactics of the wolf. However impressive all these abilities were, he knew he’d have to take on his true form as the handsome mysterious gentleman she’d met if he was to get anywhere near Kylie.
He licked his lips at the prospect of what she’d taste like. Mayhap a small bite wouldn’t hurt. He abruptly changed the direction of his pacing. No, not yet. He needed her in his homeland for what he had in store, where everything would be prepared for her, and he knew he’d get too carried away if he took that bite, no matter how small the intended sample. Perhaps he could have fun with her right before he
“Hello, Kylie? This is Cianán.”
A smile appeared at hearing his voice. “Hi.” She tried to sound cheerful.
“Good afternoon, an’ how are ye today?”
“I’m okay, and you?”
“I’m fine, thank ye.” Silence filled the line briefly. “Are ye sure you’re all right? I detect a bit o’ sadness in your voice.”
“I guess I can’t hide it, huh?”
“What’s the problem?”
“I just received some bad news about a . . . friend, but I’ll be all right.”
“Are ye certain? We can ‘ave dinner ‘nother time, if ye like.”
“No, tonight will be fine, unless you’re trying to back out?”
He laughed. “I’d like nothing more than to have dinner with ye this eve.”
“Then I guess you’re taking me to dinner.”
“I s’pose I am. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“I look forward to it.”
“As do I.”
“I suppose you’ll want to know where to pick me up?”
“That’d help.”
She laughed and gave him directions to her house. When she hung up, she realized she wasn’t so sad anymore. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was about Cianán that brought a smile to her face. She didn’t get that wonderful feeling like she did with Grant, yet there was definitely something there. The comment he’d made—asking her if she believed in destiny—came to mind. She wondered if he was her destiny.
“Oh, that’s just crazy. It’s probably just because he’s a foreigner with a cool name.” But the smile remained on her face. She thought about the night before and the way he looked at her. The way he spoke to her—to her, not at her, nor at her chest. She’d learned over the years to tell the difference, and they’d both spoken to her that way.
Perhaps Grant was the one she was destined to be with, when she recalled the incredible energy she’d felt with his touch. She shook her head, chuckling under her breath. Grant was a hottie with a cool name. Finally, she stood and walked back to Grant’s painting to finish what she’d started.
Cianán paced his luxurious Empressina suite, thinking about Kylie. She could be his Chosen One, but he had to be certain. He needed to know if she wore the mark upon her flesh, but it was obviously in a place not easily seen.
He could have taken her last night, fed on that precious lifeblood of hers, but it wouldn’t help him in the end. He didn’t normally romance his prey; he’d take enough time to locate, study, and then harvest them. He never thought he’d be in a situation long enough to find which color they favored most. He knew what worked well for each. There were ones with strong motherly instincts. For them, he took the form of a lost child. The expression on their faces when he revealed his true self was a sufficient reward. Then there were all those young men who wanted nothing more than to become intimate with the woman (or man) of their dreams. Those were only too easy and not nearly as enjoyable. But, what he fancied most was his ability to play the role of predator in the animal world, although his prey was of the human persuasion. Sometimes, he’d soar high above like an eagle swooping down to pluck his unsuspecting prey from their poor miserable lives. Other times, he’d use the sly tactics of the wolf. However impressive all these abilities were, he knew he’d have to take on his true form as the handsome mysterious gentleman she’d met if he was to get anywhere near Kylie.
He licked his lips at the prospect of what she’d taste like. Mayhap a small bite wouldn’t hurt. He abruptly changed the direction of his pacing. No, not yet. He needed her in his homeland for what he had in store, where everything would be prepared for her, and he knew he’d get too carried away if he took that bite, no matter how small the intended sample. Perhaps he could have fun with her right before he
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