The NightMan (12 page)

Adriel
questioned
her
words,
but
he
knew
they
were
true,
but
he
would
not
allow
her
to
sacrifice
herself
for
the
beast.
He
glanced
away
then
quickly
his
black
gaze
locked
onto
hers
again,
his
soul
tormented
with
anger
by
her
offer.
 
“So
you
are
giving
yourself
to
me
because
you
are
protecting
me
from
Dorian?
I
can
take
care
of
myself,”
he
growled
harshly.

Caitlin
moved
closer,
ignoring
his
discomfort
with
her
help.
Gingerly
she
took
his
head
in
her
hands.
Her
face
was
so
close
to
him
the
soft
scent
of
her
breath
lingered
against
his
lips.

“I
know
you
have
protected
them,”
her
gaze
fell
from
his.
“And
me.”

He
shifted
his
weight
and
moved
his
body
to
face
hers.

“Truly
you
do
not
know
why,”
his
voice
was
soft
and
lustrous.

“Truly,
I
know
if
anyone,
you
care.
Adriel,
I’m
not
a
fool.
Please…”

“Caitlin,
I
can’t.
You
have
never
known
a
man,
much
less
known
someone
like
me.
I
would
hurt
you.
I
can’t.
Please
go.”
He
pushed
her
away
with
his
hands
firmly
locked
on
her
shoulders.

“No.”
She
insisted.
Her
fingers
reached
around
her
back
and
unsnapped
her
bra.
“I
can’t.”

“Yes
you
can.”
He
demanded.

“No
I
can’t.
I
can’t
bear
to
see
anything
happen
to
you.”
Her
gaze
lifted
to
his
again.
“Adriel,
take
me.
Maybe
we
both
might
find
some
salvation
in
this
night.”

“Caitlin,”
Adriel
pleaded.

Her
heart
gave
no
heed
to
his
plea.
Her
eyes
glimmered
with
the
hope
he
would
soon
realize
how
much
he
really
meant
to
her.
Through
the
hundred
years
she
spent
with
Adriel
not
even
the
careful
eye
of
Dorian
could
deny
her
love
for
the
man-beast.
Her
heart
longed
to
set
him
free,
to
set
the
beast
at
peace.

Adriel
tried
to
ignore
her
request,
but
the
overwhelming
desire
burned
against
his
skin.
Wave
after
wave
he
knew
what
was
to
come.
If
he
didn’t
take
Caitlin
now
her
life
would
be
in
danger.
There
was
a
chance
he
would
kill
her
without
thinking.

Caitlin
leaned
closer,
touching
her
pink
lips
against
his.
Softly
her
tongue
grazed
against
his
upper
lip.
Hunger
and
desire
consumed
him.
The
very
scent
of
her
fueled
a
fire
inside
his
soul.
Desperately
he
fought
to
control
the
animalistic
urge,
the
same
urge
that
no
woman
had
tamed.

“Caitlin,”
he
whispered
against
her
lips.
Gently
he
took
her
face
in
his
hands.
He
drew
her
to
him
and
demanded
those
luscious
pink
lips
to
his.
His
mouth
consumed
hers,
exploring
the
sweetness
of
her
mouth
with
his
tongue.

Adriel
was
overwhelmed
by
one
thought;
having
Caitlin.
He
stood
swiftly
and
lifted
her
to
her
feet.
With
one
quick
motion,
he
ripped
his
shirt
from
his
body,
and
threw
the
shard
pieces
of
clothing
across
the
bed.
Deep
within
him
the
violent
war
waged
between
beast
and
man.

Caitlin
released
a
soft
gasp
as
her
fingers
ran
over
his
muscular
chest.
Adriel’s
body
quivered
from
the
touch
of
her
fingers
that
traced
the
ripped
muscles
in
his
stomach.

Cautiously,
he
watched
her
eyes
as
they
marveled
over
his
muscular
physique.
Her
blue
eyes
smoldered,
taking
notice
of
every
inch
of
his
lengthy
torso.

Of
all
the
many
women
he
had
experienced,
Caitlin
alone
reduced
him
to
a
state
of
weakness.
Another
tremor
from
the
beast
threatened
him.
Quickly
he
braced
himself
against
the
edge
of
the
bed
as
the
severe
pain
continued
its
course.
For
all
that
was
good
in
this
life
he
knew
he
didn’t
want
to
hurt
her.
In
this
moment
of
haste,
Caitlin
meant
the
world
to
him.

Caitlin’s
heart
blistered
with
pain
as
she
watched
Adriel
pull
away
from
her.
He
sat
down
on
the
edge
of
the
bed,
hands
balled
into
tight
fists,
battling
against
the
rage.
Now
more
than
ever
she
knew
he
needed
her
compassion
and
far
more
her
love.

Adriel
bent
forward,
clasping
his
hands
together
against
his
head
as
he
growled
against
another
wave
of
pain
that
swept
over
him.
It
was
the
beast
every
vampire
in
the
house
feared
that
dared
to
break
free.
He
swore
in
his
heart
he
would
battle
the
beast.
His
heart
longed
to
give
Caitlin
the
love
of
a
man
who
would
truly
love
the
very
breath
which
left
her
body.