She jolted, her eyes flying open, when he tweaked a hardened tip.

"Och, I was right."

She watched as he lowered his head and circled his tongue around her nipple. With his free hand, he cupped her other breast and teased the nipple with his thumb. She moaned. She'd never felt anything this good before.

He sucked her nipple into his mouth.

She jerked in response. Oh, now this was even better. She'd never felt anything this wonderful. Her fingers dug into his back. Her toes curled.

He was doing something incredible with his tongue. And it was making her squirm. Making her feel wet.

He released her nipple and she stared at it, shocked that it could be so red and distended. He moved to her other breast and clamped down on the nipple. All the itchy, wiggly sensations started again. They prickled her skin and sent waves of heat straight to her vagina.

With a moan, she squirmed and pressed her thighs together.

His hand skimmed over her pajama shorts. Her heart lurched. Yes. She lifted her hips just as his hand cupped her.

She gasped. She lowered her hips to the floor and held her breath. She'd never gone this far before. The one time she'd come close, she'd caught the guy lying and she'd stopped him.

But now all she could feel were her own sensations, and Robby was making it so good. He suckled her breast gently and started pressing his hand against her core, massaging her in a circular motion. Her nervousness melted away and she was able to breathe. Her breaths matched the movement of his hand. It felt like her whole body was in sync with his hand.

She moaned and rocked her hips in rhythm with his hand. This was definitely the most incredible thing she'd ever felt. Her whole body was tingling and tensing.

He released her breast and blew on it. She shuddered. Then suddenly, the slow, languid circles weren't enough. Her fingers dug into his back. "Robby."

"Yes, love." He slipped his fingers inside the baggy hem of the pajama shorts and stroked the damp hair.

She whimpered. Something intense and amazing was building inside her.

He hooked his fingers around the crotch of her pajama shorts and pulled them down her legs.

She'd never been completely naked with a man before, but instead of feeling awkward, she was desperate. "Robby, please."

He seemed to understand she was past the point of gentle coaxing. He slid a finger inside her wet passage, then pressed his thumb against her clitoris.

She cried out as her orgasm shot through her. She pressed her legs together as her spasms squeezed his finger.

She pressed a hand against her chest as her breathing slowly returned to normal. She noted his eyes looked red again. Strange, but maybe it was just a reflection from the fire. His smile was decidedly smug.

She grinned. He had good reason to be proud. "You were incredible. I've never felt anything so wonderful before."

His mouth twitched. "Are ye sure?"

"Yes."

He moved between her legs and pressed a kiss into her belly. "Are ye really sure?"

Her mouth fell open as he trailed kisses down her belly, into her pubic hair, and then between her legs. She jolted at the feel of his tongue teasing her clitoris. Good God, he was right. This was even more wonderful.

She let her legs fall open wide so he could lick and suckle all he wanted. She squirmed while the tension coiled within her. "Oh, Robby."

He inserted a finger inside her, waggling it while he flicked his tongue. A second orgasm crashed over her, and she clenched him between her thighs as she cried out.

"Oh my God, Robby." She struggled to catch her breath.

He loosened the drawstring around his waist. "Olivia, I'm dying to be inside you."

She swallowed hard. Should she tell him now about her virginity or let him discover it later?

"I want ye to know how serious I am about this. Once I've taken you, I willna want to lose you. Ever."

She sat up and touched his cheek. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't love you."

"Och, Olivia." He cradled her face in his hands. "I've waited so long for you."

A loud knock sounded on the front door.

CHAPTER 9

Robby groaned. Bloody hell, not now. "Just ignore it."

Olivia glanced toward the foyer. "Could it be the other guy who lives here?" she whispered. "Carlos?"

"Nay. He wouldna be knocking."

"Oh, right. He probably has a key." She fumbled through the pillows and located her pajamas.

"Sweetheart, we're no' finished." They'd better not be finished. His erection had reached painful proportions.

A banging noise echoed through the house as the unknown visitor pounded on the door.

Olivia jerked the pajama shorts up to her waist. "Who could it - "

"Police!"

She gasped. "Oh no!" She pulled on the tank top.

"Bugger," Robby muttered.

"What are they doing here?" she whispered.

"It must be about the jaguar."

"I thought they didn't believe you."

Robby stood and winced at the bulge in his pants. What a way to greet the local police. "I'll take care of it. Wait here." He headed across the room.

"They might want to check the grounds. And if they look through the windows...this could be bad."

He turned and saw her tossing the pillows back onto the couch. A twinge pricked at his gut. "Ye shouldna be embarrassed." Or ashamed. He couldn't bear to go through that again.

"I need to get dressed." She dashed toward the kitchen. "If they see me like this, the whole island will hear about it, and my grandmother will be mortified."

Would you be mortified? He wanted to ask, but she'd already run into the kitchen. He heard the door to the utility room shut, then more banging on the front door.

"Bugger." He trudged into the foyer, then cracked open the front door and peered out, making sure his swollen groin was hidden behind the door frame.

"Police," a portly, middle-aged man said with a thick accent and the hoarse voice of a habitual smoker. There was a badge pinned to his khaki uniform. "You telephoned about the panther?"

"Yes. Did ye find it?" He hoped Carlos was all right.

"We thought you were drunk, so we did not look for it. Then we get a call from Spiro. His goats were very loud, so he goes outside. The big cat is there, scaring the goats. He tries to shoot the panther, but it runs away."

So Carlos had wanted goat for dinner. Robby aimed a surge of psychic vampire control at the police officer. There is no panther. Spiro was mistaken. So was I. We had too much to drink. If ye see anything that looks like a panther, ye willna shoot at it. Ye willna try to harm it. Do ye understand?

The police officer nodded with a blank, glassy stare. "I understand."

Ye will leave and no' return here. "Thank you for stopping by," Robby added out loud.

The officer looked confused as the mind control faded away. "Oh. Okay." He stepped back. "I will go, then."

"Good night, officer." Robby shut the door. The policeman would subconsciously follow his orders, so hopefully, Carlos would be safe.

Robby wandered back into the family room and glanced at the rug where just moments ago he'd brought Olivia to climax. Twice. She'd been so passionate and responsive, so sweet and loving. Tonight should have confirmed their future together, but a small doubt had weaseled into his heart. What if she couldn't handle the truth about him being a vampire? What if she found it ugly or shameful?

No, he rejected that thought. Olivia was not like his wife. She would never betray him. His wife had put her own interests first, but Olivia was different. She'd wanted to face the panther alone rather than put him in danger.

"Did you get rid of the police?" she whispered from the darkness of the kitchen.

"Aye, they're gone." He strode into the room and noted with dismay that she'd dressed.

She avoided looking at him. "I-I left the sweater. It was still wet. And my shoes are still on the patio. I'm sure they're wet, too."

"It's all right. We can wait. No one knows ye're here."

"My grandmother knows. And if I don't return soon, she'll be sending the police back here." She looked at him now, her eyes sad. "I'm sorry. I know you...expected more."

"Sweetheart." He touched her cheek. "Ye're far beyond anything I ever expected. I never thought such a beautiful and brave lass could care for me."

"Robby." Her eyes filled with tears. "I don't know how this can be happening. How can I fall in love so fast?"

"There's no need to question it."

"But that's what I do. I analyze feelings and situations. When people fall in love this quickly, how can you trust it to last when times get - " She stopped when he placed his fingers on her lips.

"Do ye believe in love?"

She nodded.

"Do ye believe in faithfulness and loyalty?"

"Yes." She took his hand in hers and smiled. "And I believe good will overcome evil. I believe in family and friendship, kindness and respect. Just don't ask me to believe in unicorns and the Tooth Fairy."

He chuckled. "Nay. But I will ask you to believe in me."

"I want to. I really want to."

"Then do it." He kissed her brow. "I wish ye would stay with me." Forever.

"I need to go for now." She placed a hand on his chest. "But I could come back tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes." She smoothed her hand through his chest hair and over his nipple. "Can you wait till tomorrow?"

"I could wait forever for you." He slapped himself mentally. "But I doona want to wait that long. I'm ready for you now."

She glanced down and winced. "I noticed. Would it help if I threw more ice water on you?"

"Cruel wench," he growled, then smiled at the sound of her giggle.

"Can you give me a ride home? I don't want to walk with a panther out there."

"Aye. I can do that." Robby gathered the car keys and his ID. The evening hadn't gone completely as he'd hoped, but over all, he couldn't complain. He'd given Olivia pleasure. He'd felt her shatter in his arms.

He'd confessed his love, and she'd surrendered her heart. She might not quite realize it yet. She was putting up a wee bit of resistance, but there was no denying it. She was falling in love with him.

Tomorrow night he would lay full claim to her. And then nothing would ever part them.

It was almost noon by the time Olivia woke on Thursday. She'd tossed and turned most of the night, waffling between anxiety and elation. Elation because she was falling in love with the sweetest, most gorgeous, most heroic man she'd ever met. Anxiety because she'd known him less than a week. And she was seriously considering losing her virginity to him tonight.

For the first time in her life the term "madly in love" was making sense. The overwhelming rush of passion and desire was causing her to do crazy things. But it felt so good. The things he'd done to her with his hands, his mouth - he was incredible. And she didn't need her empathic powers with him. She could feel his love with every touch, every glance, and every word he spoke to her.

She dressed and wandered into the kitchen. "Good morning, Yia Yia."

"Morning?" Eleni snorted as she tossed some olives and feta cheese into a salad. "It's time for lunch, child."

"Sorry." Olivia checked the kettle on the stove. The water inside was still hot. "I didn't sleep well."

"No one will sleep well until they catch that nasty jaguar," Eleni grumbled. "Just as well you missed breakfast. I didn't dare go to the bakery for fresh bread."

"What's the latest news?" Olivia retrieved a mug from an overhead cabinet. She'd told her grandmother about the panther after Robby had driven her home the night before. Of course she'd avoided letting Eleni know how close she'd come to being attacked by the wild animal.

"Alexia called this morning. She heard that a goat was killed near Horos. The goat herder said a huge black cat like a panther did it, but the police are saying there is no panther. No one has seen it all day."

Olivia nodded as she fixed a cup of tea. "It may be nocturnal."

"I don't think you should go out tonight."

"I'll be fine. Robby said he'd pick me up."

Eleni heaved a huge sigh. "I had such high hopes for Spiro. But this Robby seems like a nice boy. He sent you a nice box of fruit this morning."

Olivia's breath hitched. Her hand trembled and she set the mug on the counter. "Fruit?" She turned to face her grandmother. "What kind of fruit?"

"Apples. Next to the - child, what's wrong?" Eleni hurried over to her.

Olivia stumbled back against the counter. No, no, it couldn't be him.

"What's wrong?" Eleni touched her shoulder. "There's a dark aura of...terror surrounding you."

"Where?" she whispered. "Where are the apples?"

"On the counter by the refrigerator."

Olivia forced herself to walk, one step at a time, around the kitchen table to the fridge. There was a deafening noise in her ears, the thundering beat of her heart. Her grandmother was right beside her, still talking, but her voice seemed fuzzy and far away.

She spotted it. The familiar brown box with the green logo. He always sent six apples. Red ones nestled in green Easter grass. Inside would be a note. Typed.

Previous messages flitted through her mind. Dearest Olivia, I'll never let you go. Dearest Olivia, you are mine forever. Dearest Olivia, you are the only one worthy of me.