Ariel narrowed her gaze on Jachin. "When I get my equilibrium back, I'm dragging your sorry ass into the sunlight."

"That mouth will most assuredly be the death of you." He gave a low chuckle and set her on the ground then slid his backpack to the cave's dusty floor.

Her entire body continued to shake in the aftermath. Even though she was pissed at him, Ariel found herself inching as close to Jachin as she could without touching him. She had to be in shock, she told herself. Why else would she stand in a vampire's personal space after what she'd just experienced?

Shivering, she closed her eyes against the memories of the two vampires' vicious bites, but the trickling sensation of her blood rolling down her neck wouldn't let her lock the memory safely away.

She reached up to touch one of her wounds, but Jachin grabbed her wrist before her fingers could connect with her skin.

"Sit. We need to tend to your injuries."

Her gaze locked with his hooded one. His face was shrouded in darkness so she couldn't gauge his mood…or his sincerity. His voice told her nothing. It was devoid of emotion. Apparently that was his norm.

"Do I get a choice in the matter?" she asked.

"No," came his stoic response.

She sighed, and apprehension tightened her chest as she lowered herself to a seated position on the hard ground in front of him.

Jachin unzipped his pack and withdrew a red apple. He held it out, and his voice was gruff when he said, "Eat."

Terror still flowed through her. Food was the last thing on her mind. She started to shake her head. "I'm not hungry—"

Jachin's dark gaze narrowed and his jaw tensed. Ariel's heart jerked at his fierce look. He obviously wasn't taking no for an answer. She took the apple and bit into it. The flavor exploded over her tongue, making her mouth water. As she crunched the sweet fruit, she asked, "Why do I feel like Adam?"

He ignored her comment and gave her a curt nod. "Turn around."

Ariel dug her teeth into the red peel for another chunk of fruit and did as he asked. As soon as her rear settled on the floor, he gripped her waist and pulled her between his opened legs. "You need to move closer."

She stiffened and gasped at their intimate position, almost choking as she swallowed a large piece of apple. Her rear and hips were cradled by his groin, her back against his muscular chest. Heat radiated from his hard body, seeping into her skin through her clothes. The smell of smoke mixed with his exotic, masculine scent made her pulse race.

"Relax, Ariel." His low voice ran over her as the slow rhythm of his heartbeat thumped against her back. The combination had an immediate calming effect on her frazzled nerves.

Her stomach rumbled, hunger finally kicking in after her first couple of bites. She bit off another chunk of apple and chewed as she waited for him to pull some bandages from his backpack.

When his warm breath swept across the back of her neck, she gasped and froze, panic ramming in her chest.

"Wh—what are you doing?" She gripped the apple, her voice barely a whisper.

His arm moved around her waist, holding her still as his other hand swept her hair away from her torn skin.

Ariel quickly pulled her hair down the side of her neck, covering the birthmark that resided right below her hairline on the back of her neck. It was such an odd crescent-moon shape, people had always commented when she'd pulled her hair up in a ponytail as a child—and she'd become self-conscious about it.

"I'm closing your wound," he said in a husky tone right before his warm tongue swept across her exposed flesh.

Chill bumps formed on the surface of her skin and her belly tightened at the strange sensation. Her grip on her hair relaxed and she forgot about being self-conscious when the skittering and fluttering in her stomach grew stronger. The history books never mentioned vampires closing wounds, just causing them.

As if he'd read her thoughts, Jachin said, "My saliva has a healing agent in it. How do you think you recovered from all your other injuries so quickly?"

"I haven't had time to ponder it," she lied, resisting a shudder at his comment. He must've closed her wounds while she'd been unconscious. Heat flushed her cheeks, and she swallowed hard at the thought of all the places he had to have run his tongue across her naked body to heal her. He could've bitten her then.

"You must trust me." His voice sounded almost hypnotic.

"Said Eve to Adam," she said in an unsteady tone.

"Are you saying I'm in league with the devil?" His tongue ran across her wound once more, this time in a slower, leisurely sweep. Before she could respond, he turned her in his arms so her back leaned across his biceps. "I'm not in league, Ariel, but it's in your best interest to remember…everyone has an agenda."

His gaze locked with hers and for a second she thought she saw his pupils dilate. How was that possible for her to see? His eyes were as black as his pupils, weren't they? She blinked and as if she'd imagined it, the imagery was gone. His stare was as dark as sin once more.

Ariel's breath caught as he lowered his head to her throat. His clean shaven cheek brushed hers, silently telling her to give him access to her neck.

Her heart thundered and her pulse raced as she gripped his arm. The man was pure muscle, a murderous killer. She'd never felt more vulnerable in her life. Yet, if it weren't for him, she probably wouldn't have survived her biggest fear…being attacked by a vampire—make that two vampires.

She closed her eyes and held her breath as she tilted her head back and waited in tense silence.

His heat enveloped her, while his musky, seductive scent surrounded her. Anticipation curled in her stomach as his warm breath bathed her neck.

She held back a gasp when his tongue slid up her neck. He applied pressure along with another swipe of his tongue, and the tension within her changed. Tingling flooded through her in aching waves of desire.

Her reaction shocked her, causing her heart rate to jump-start in excitement. She held herself perfectly still. This wasn't happening. She didn't want this.

I don't want him. He's a vampire.