moment it seemed anything could happen.
But nothing ever did, not now.
She had first seen Sebastian in that strange light. The sun had been sinking on the horizon, the moon rising opposite, the first stars lighting in the sky. And in that one moment, with one glimpse, Lilith had been smitten.
And later, on the night that theyâd shared everything, heâd come to the Rom camp at the same magickal time of day. Looking for her. Lilith hugged herself, remembering the heat in his eyes, the slow smile that had been just for her. Her heart pounded in recollection and her mouth went dry.
She was fed up with memories. She wanted him back!
The doorbell rang and Lilith jumped.
Sebastian?
But a wink of neon caught the periphery of her vision and squashed her hope. Sheâd just left the sign on.
The last thing she wanted to do was provide advice â especially as she was aching herself.
The doorbell rang again, more insistently this time.
It wouldnât be right to not answer.
Sheâd just say that she couldnât do a reading tonight.
Lilith trudged to the door, haunted by her memories. DâArtagnan wound around her ankles, but she ignored the cat and opened the door.
âIâm sorry, butâ¦â she started to say, then stared in disbelief.
Sebastian was on her porch.
His chestnut hair still curled slightly. His eyes were still the same golden brown. He was taller than she remembered and more powerfully built than he had been before. He was a little older than he had been, but then, so was Lilith.
Neither of them were impetuous teenagers anymore.
Sebastian wore a red T-shirt that clung to his chest and denim shorts that still hid too much of his muscled legs. His feet were shoved into faded running shoes and his hair looked as if he had just pushed his fingers through it. Certainly the tinge of impatience in the set of his lips was new, but then Lilith was pretty much out of patience herself.
Obviously, he had had trouble finding her again.
But he was here! Just the sight of him on her very own doorstep sent a spark racing through Lilithâs veins. He was all man. He was her man. He was her beloved.
Heâd returned, just as heâd promised.
And sheâd been waiting a long long time.
This wasnât a moment to waste on conversation.
She had, after all, vowed to make his return worth his while.
Lilith grabbed Sebastianâs shirt and hauled him into her foyer. She slammed the door behind him, locked it with one hand while she curled the other around his neck and kissed him hard.
Sebastian jumped a bit in surprise â maybe heâd forgotten how passionate she could be â but she backed him into the hallway, rolling her tongue into his mouth.
The man was going to know that heâd been missed.
He tasted so good, and smelled even better. Lilith ran her hands over his muscled shoulders and savored.
Sebastian made a sound of protest, but Lilith gobbled it up. She didnât care if this was too fast â she was burning with desire.
Next time, they would take it slowly.
And the next time and the next time after that. They could spend all night reaffirming their love, a glorious repeat of the passion that had sparked between them before.
But first, she wanted him fast.
Right here and right now.
Lilith pressed her breasts against Sebastian and felt the heat of his erection. She rolled her hips against him and loved how he caught his breath. He was still trying to tell her something, but she didnât care.
It could wait.
Lilith unzipped his fly, her fingers closing quickly around him. Sebastian moaned and caught his breath as she began to caress him. He still tried to talk, but Lilith kissed him with even more enthusiasm. It might have been centuries, but Lilith hadnât forgotten anything her lover had taught her. She loved his little sound of defeat, the moment he surrendered the attempt to talk, the way his hands landed on her shoulders and
William K. Klingaman, Nicholas P. Klingaman
John McEnroe;James Kaplan