Corin & Angelique (After the Fall of Night) (12 page)

Devastated and full of misery, the grief-stricken widow couldn’t go on in life
without him. At the midnight hour, weeping upon her beloved’s grave, she drank a vial of poison, vowing to reunite with her lost love in death. Taking her last breath at precisely three minutes past twelve, the spirit of the young soldier rose from his grave and took her in a graceful dance, enchanting the cemetery forevermore.

According to the legend, each night at the exact moment of her demise, the
inhabitants of the cemetery rise from their graves and dance under the night sky in honor of the lovers. Beyond death, she found life again, proving love really does conquer all.

Angelique didn’t believe the tale, but she loved the romance of it, a sorrowful
but beautiful story of two souls fated to be joined forever, never to be parted, not even by death. And the thought of the spirits resting there, beneath that sacred earth, rising from their graves and dancing amid the stones was enthralling. She could picture the ghostly scene in her mind.

She looked up at the moon ruling the night sky and imagined it pulling the
dead from their resting places, calling them forth to dance under a massive sea of lights, all in honor of eternal love. Angelique had to admit to wishing the tale was true, but she wouldn’t hold her breath. Yawning, she looked down at her watch. It read 12:10 a.m.

“I guess there’ll be no dancing spirits tonight.” She pushed herself up, figuring
she’d best head home, not wanting Tomes to find her gone and send out a search party.

Angelique left the cemetery with the intention of heading straight home, but
when she came to a small bridge that spanned one of many creeks running through the hilly, wooded area, she had an inclination to stop. Pulling over, she got out without the tiniest bit of apprehension—she had no fear of being out there all alone—making her way down a slope to the rushing water below. The bank lay blanketed in darkness beneath the cover of the overhanging trees. The movement of the water cooled the air as it rolled along practically unseen, flowing into some imperceptible black void. Very little light hit its surface, but where it did manage to dapple through, it sparkled like melted silver.

She walked along the bank, away from the road. The scene reminded her of a
black and white movie, with everything appearing in shades of gray. She took a seat on a large rock at the water’s edge and stared into the endless depths of rippling water. Examining the reflections, she found her own dim, distorted outline.

Falling deep into her thoughts, she sat motionless, until the sound of
crunching leaves caused her to jump and turn back. She wasn’t alone. Not knowing what to expect, Angelique searched the ground for a limb or rock, anything she might use to defend herself. Her heart pounding fast and hard, she grabbed a branch, gripping it tightly to face the unseen intruder.

“Who’s there?” she called out in a shaky voice.

A tall male figure stepped out from the shadows, his outline just visible. A chill swept through her as he approached. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice desperate. She stiffened in fear, her eyes wide, preparing to release a scream.

“It’s okay,” the man finally spoke.

“Corin, is that you?”

“Yes,” he assured her, his face coming into view.

He almost didn’t look real, the sight of him the only color in an otherwise somber scene.

“I think you enjoy sneaking up on me. What are you doing out here?”

“I should be asking you that question. I saw your car by the road and thought something might be wrong.”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

“You shouldn’t be out here all alone so late at night. It’s after midnight. You don’t listen to anyone, do you?”

“I’ve taken plenty of nighttime drives before. This isn’t the first.”

“We’ve been over this. What if I’d been the killer,” Corin argued.

“No lectures…please.” Angelique dropped the limb. “I get enough of that from
Tomes. Besides, I’ve always felt so safe in these woods. This is where I find my solace. I’m drawn to the wilderness at night. I guess you could call me a
Vampira Pocahontas.
” Angelique laughed.

“Being drawn to the night and wilderness is something I completely
understand. As you plainly see, you’re not the only one out wandering the deserted roadways after midnight.”

“So that’s what you’re doing out here, succumbing to the call of the wild?”

“For the most part. The night is my time.”

“Yes. I know that about you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you out during the
day.”

Angelique looked up as an owl called out from the dark canopy above them,
impressed when Corin returned its call.

“Amazing. You sound just like it.”

“We creatures of the night share a common language.” He stepped closer and claimed her hand.

His dark, enigmatic eyes drew her in. She was powerless to resist, although
resisting was the farthest thing from her mind. Taking in a quick breath, his touch was merely a tease, sending a sensation of pins and needles rushing through her, making her yearn for more.

“The night, it’s full of life. It stirs while the rest of the world lies sleeping,” he
said. “Close your eyes and listen.”

Angelique shut her eyes and the sounds became clear—the rushing of water,
crickets and frogs, the whistling of the wind blowing through the treetops. The night birds calling to one another from distant branches further added to the beauty of the symphony, creating a soothing melody that could lull her to sleep. Everything was separate, yet perfectly blended.

“It’s incredible.” She opened her eyes and looked into his
dark stare.

“You see, I do understand your attraction to the night, probably better than
anyone else could. She’s the queen of seduction—a true siren. Like you, I am just another of her many captives. But as tempting as it may be, you have to be careful right now.” He leaned toward her and inhaled, lingering several seconds. “Forgive me.”

Stepping back, he
released her hand.

“There’s nothing to apologize for,” she was disappointed
he’d pulled away, wishing he had kissed her.

She had wanted him from the very first time she’d laid eyes on him a month
earlier, recalling the evening. Night had just fallen when he came along, finding her trying to catch a stubborn mare that had slipped through the gate. She was a short distance past the farm on Old Denaud Road, attempting to coax the horse to her with a bucket of feed. Seeing her predicament, he’d stopped to help, and to her surprise, had the mare eating right out of his hand in a matter of minutes. Standing there with him now, she found herself in the same position as that lulled mare—ready to take whatever he had to give.

* * * *

Corin stood on the bank, struggling against his desire to take Angelique’s enticing, rosy mouth to his.

“The night is a seductress, she puts her spell on us all,” he said.

“You really are a night owl.”

Corin allowed a slight laugh to escape.
If she only knew how right on the mark she was
.

“I didn’t hear your car,” she mentioned. “The creek’s so loud.”

“I could have been anyone. I’ll say it again, Angelique, you shouldn’t be wandering off alone.”

He understood that he couldn’t pin down her free spirit—one of the many
things he loved about her—but he had to open her eyes to the danger existing there. He couldn’t bear to lose her, especially not as food to a nocturnal hunter.

“I love how you worry about me,” she twirl
ed a long tendril of hair around her finger.

Corin turned away, fighting his compulsion to take her in his arms and have
his way with her, something he knew he shouldn’t do…could not do. Struggling against his animal urges, he’d managed to control his desires until she wrapped her arms around him from behind, sending a rage of heat through his loins.

His restraint weakening,
he turned and faced her. She was enticing as the night, a force whose pull he could not resist. Peering into her eyes, she initiated the first move, taking both of his hands in hers and stepping so near he felt the warmth of her skin. Her scent was arousing, her face so close to his jaw-line that her breath moistened his neck.

Expelling a groan, he
seized her slender waist and pulled her against him, unable to resist her pull any longer. Giving in to desire, he brushed his lips over the top of her sable head, silently cursing himself for his weakness. His hands traveled up her seductive body, stopping when he reached her face, where he placed two fingers under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. He saw her want, her need, pure hunger in the depths of her gaze, sending his blood surging—molten lava—through his veins.

“We shouldn’t be—” he started to protest their actions, but Angelique hushed
him.

“It’s okay,” she whispered, as if knowing his struggle.

He brushed his thumb over her lips and ran his mouth down the side of her face to her neck where he lingered for a moment.

“Kiss me, Corin,” she whispered.

Those three words were all it took. He sought her mouth, besotted by the pure rapture of their kiss. He’d never wanted anything more. The line was crossed and he didn’t want to revert. But in the midst of passion, he suddenly pulled back and let her go. He had to let her go.

“I can’t do this.” He wanted nothing more than to satisfy his burning urges,
but for her sake, he had to stop himself. “This shouldn’t be happening.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Your brother’s right. You deserve the best life has to offer,” he mumbled.

“My brother? What is it with you and Tomes?”

He could see her agitation. He’d lifted her to a heightened state of arousal, only to pull away.

“We have an understanding…and a common interest,” he gave her a vague
reply.

“Why don’t you clarify for me whether you two are friends or enemies,
because from where I’m standing, it’s impossible to determine.”

“We are both, I guess…and neither.” By her reaction, Corin could tell his
response had only infuriated her more.

I’d have been better off saying nothing at all.

“Friends who are enemies. That clears everything right up. And no one forced you to kiss me, Corin. But don’t worry, you’re off the hook. I just wish you could be truthful with me.”

“You have no idea how much I wanted to kiss you, Angelique. I wish things
were different…that Tomes wasn’t so disapproving.”

“I think it might be best if we leave Tomes out of the equation, whatever that
may be. If it were left up to him, I’d be single till the day I die. He’d be happy to see me an old maid.”

“He’s just looking out for your best interests. He
wants to make sure you’re safe and happy.” Corin defended Tomes’s intentions.

“Yes, well, he needs to realize I’m not a child anymore. I’m an adult with all
the needs and wants of a grown woman.”

Angelique stepped closer to Corin and stroked his face with her fingertips.

“You see that, don’t you? I wasn’t mistaken, was I?”

Corin took her hand in his and placed a gentle kiss on
the inside of her wrist. “No, you weren’t mistaken. But for your sake, let’s just slow it down a bit. We don’t have to move so fast.”

Corin knew she had doubts, thinking maybe he didn’t share her interest. But
she couldn’t have been further from the truth. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone before, but he had to control his wants and desires, for her sake. He just wished he could make her understand why it couldn’t happen…what was at stake. But telling her the truth was something he couldn’t do.

“Are we still on for our walk tomorrow evening?”
Angelique turned and moved along the bank, in the direction of the road.

“I haven’t forgotten. But I was thinking, maybe you’d rather accompany me to
the county fair instead. It’s in Black River Falls this week.”

“You mean…like a date?”

“Yes, it would be our first official date,” he smiled.

“Don’t you need to check with Tomes first,” she needled. “Get his approval?”

“Ouch. I deserve that. And we both know your brother would never give me his approval. But after tonight, I’m having second thoughts when it comes to him. I think you’re right, from now on let’s just leave him out of our relationship.”

“Agreed. And
the fair…I’d love to go.”

Reaching the car, he opened the door and she
climbed in.

“What do you say I pick you up at nine
thirty? It’s a little late, but the lights will be nice after dark.” he proposed.

“At the farm? Tomes might be there.”