Honeymoon Bite (Golden Vampire Legacy) by Sharon Hamilton Page A

kind,” Marcus corrected her.
    “I don’t want anything to happen to Robert just because I had a bit of bad luck.”
    “I understand. But others might cause him harm as a way to get to you.”
    “I do care about him.” She could see Marcus wasn’t convinced.
    “Yet you don’t live together,” he said.
    “No. We’ve had some difficulties.” She examined her nails, removed an invisible piece of lint from her skirt.
    “Are you truly married to him, Anne?”
    “How do you know my name?” She looked up at him and felt his pulse race. She could hear his beating heart. And he felt hers beating in tandem.
    “Answer my question and I’ll tell you.”
    “What question?”
    “Are you still married?”
    Oh, that.
    “Technically, probably not.” There didn’t appear to be any reason to deny what was obvious to him.
    “You renounced the ceremony?”
    “You mean the wedding? You talk funny.”
    “Forgive me.” He laid his palm against his heart and inclined his head slightly.
    “Yes, I renounced the ceremony. But Robert has been a little stubborn about it. He’s not quite given up. But legally, I don’t believe we are married. And I sure as heck don’t feel married.”
    “Why do you wear his symbol?” Marcus pointed to her ring.
    “I can’t get it off.”
    Marcus chuckled, revealing the crease at the side of his mouth that was so damn attractive. “Would you like me to help?” Now he looked like the Cheshire cat.
    Anne caught herself gasping for air. Fear mingled with attraction and made her stomach churn. “I’ll have a jeweler do it.”
    Marcus nodded his head slightly. “You put your own husband in jeopardy the longer you are near him. Don’t you ever fantasize feeding on him? You could kill him, you know.”
    I’ve already had that thought. Every day.
    “I think I have more control than you give me credit for. The reason I feed is so I can be strong. I may not want Robert as a husband, but I wouldn’t want him to come to harm, would you?”
    Marcus gave her one of those confident smiles. “You have no need to worry about me. I will not cause either of you harm.” His gaze drilled his words into her head
    “Who then? Why is he in danger?”
    “I’ll explain it later. Trust me, as long as others think he is your husband, he is in grave danger.”
    “Then I will protect him. And I am going to live my life as a human. No one but you will know about this. So, you see, you need not worry. I’m all taken care of.”
    “What will you do when people notice you do not age? What will you tell them, my pet?”
    “I’m not your pet. Look, all this is new. I’ll figure something out.”
    “Don’t you want children?”
    “Yes. Someday.”
    “What will you do when you don’t get pregnant? You can’t be tested or your secret will be revealed.”
    “I might be able to have children. I don’t see why not. I’m healthy, just eccentric in my eating habits.” It felt good to say it, even though she knew he didn’t believe her.
    “Do you bleed?”
    “Excuse me? Don’t you think that is a little personal?” She couldn’t believe he had asked her about this.
    “How can you get pregnant if you don’t bleed? Do you bleed now?”
    Anne waited a minute before she answered. “So what? I’ve skipped a cycle. I can’t be pregnant, but I don’t see why I couldn’t. Maybe I will when my body gets adjusted.”
    “If you were with me, you would bleed.”
    “This is getting to the point where I feel like I should leave.”
    He covered her hand resting on the arm of the chair. Anne could see the tenderness he was trying to convey.
    “I wish you wouldn’t. I would like the chance to earn your trust. To become your . . . friend.”
    “I thought you said I was your fated female.”
    “Well, that is what I feel. Clearly you do not, yet.”
    “No. And I’m not going to allow even the hint of that thought in my head.” As she said this, she saw his body covering hers on a bed with black sheets