She stares at them for a moment because, apparently, I’ve gone off-script.
“Oookaaaay.” Her violet gaze meets mine again, and I feel…something.
My full, achingly hard cock throbs, demanding to be buried inside her.
She grabs one of the serving trays and props it sideways on the bar, to her right, so it blocks us from the view of other patrons. The wall is to her left. It unnerves me in good ways that she looks me in the eyes as she speaks, and yet I’m helpless to compel her.
“Let’s play a game. Here’s the rules: My real name’s on the back of my name tag. I’ll show you, and you get only one attempt to pronounce it correctly. You’ll say it softly, so no one else can hear. You do not reveal to anyone what it says, win or lose. I win? KA-ching. You win? I’ll go downstairs with you, only to talk. Nothing else. You also never get another chance to play this game.”
“Do it.”
Her right hand covers her name tag. “You sure?”
I nod.
I can already tell no one has ever won this game, even before I hear Lucius speak just behind me. “I do so love this game.”
“Ready?” she asks.
I’m trying not to drool as I imagine how the glass of her blood tasted last night, I nod.
She leans closer, a victorious smile already curling those gorgeous lips of hers as she tugs on her name tag and flips it over, so I can read the back. I only glance away from her beautiful violet eyes just long enough to read the word written there in black marker.
Eilidh
Victory makes me want to cackle with glee, but I maintain my composure.
Maybe I’m not as ready to meet the sunrise as I thought.
“Hello, AY-lee,” I whisper. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I smile as her eyes go wide and her jaw drops open. Behind me, Lucius roars with laughter and slaps me between the shoulder blades.
6
Eilidh
Motherfucker.
Stunned, I stand there ready to lambaste Lucius, fricking vampire king or not, for telling the guy the answer.
Lucius holds up his hand. “I didn’t tell him. I swear. Neither did Selene.”
Not-Ianto smiles, and his Midwestern-blah accent turns into a sexy Scottish burr that makes my girly parts want to play his bagpipe. “He dinnae tell, me bonnie lass. Not his fault I grew up in that part o’ the world.” His smile fades, as does his accent, and his voice returns to a whisper. “My sister-in-law’s name was Eilidh. It means ‘sun’ or ‘radiant one,’ depending who you ask.”
Dammit. That figures.
“Take the rest of the night off, if you wish,” Lucius tells me. “Paid.”
Dexter gently catches my hand before I can pull back, folds the five hundreds in half, and presses the wad into my palm, closing my fingers around them. “I still want you to have this.”
I struggle against a wave of anger. “I’m not a whore,” I grit through clenched teeth.
“I didn’t say you were. All I wish to do is talk with you—that was the bet. I expect nothing more. But I can afford to be a gracious winner. Please?”
“Dexter is annoyingly chivalrous,” Lucius volunteers. “His word is good.” He drops his voice and addresses Dexter. “Do not ever speak her real name under this roof again without her permission.”
I don’t understand why Dexter’s light blue eyes seem to affect me in a way no other vampire ever has. “Understood.” I don’t even mean he’s compelling me. I mean…
They’re just gorgeous. He’s a gorgeous man. Not the fake kind of pretty man, like so many of the vamps. Real-world pretty, like he’s not so far removed from the human race that he can’t remember what it was like to be one.
There’s a tiny yet noisy part of my soul begging me to let Dexter bend me over a spanking bench and have his way with me.
The rest of me quickly locks that part in a mental closet. I don’t care how hunky he is or how chivalrous. He’s a vampire. I don’t shit where I eat. Or, in this case, I don’t let them eat where I eat, so to speak.
I need to stand strong.
Don’t I?
Besides, if he did know more about me, he’d likely run the other way. And I can’t afford to lose my heart to a hunky guy who isn’t interested in anything other than taking a few pints out of me and taking my pants off me while sticking his D into me.
Returning the tray to its place, I tuck the bills into my sports bra with the other hundred I earned earlier. Okay, so I made six hundred tonight, cash, on top of other tips and my pay. That’s not a bad night at all. It means I can finally get new tires put on my SUV, which I’ve been putting off.
And all I have to do is talk to Not-Ianto?
I am nothing if not a realist. It’s worth it, I suppose.
Even if that locked-away part of me is pounding on the closet door and begging me to give Dexter a chance.
I tell Carl, the other bartender, that Lucius needs me downstairs. That means Carl won’t feel irritated that I’m bailing. Whatever Lucius wants, he gets. I feel Dexter’s gaze heavy upon me as I walk all the way down and around the far end of the bar. I suspect if I tried to bolt for it that he would blur and appear right in front of me.
It’s not worth embarrassing myself or Lucius like that. I’ll be a gracious loser, even if I’ve never lost the name tag game before.
I walk over to where Dexter stands, waiting.
Dexter Van Sussex is handsome, yes.
The fact that I keep expecting Captain Jack Harkness to pop out of a nearby doorway and lay a sexy-ass kiss on his mouth doesn’t hurt, either.
He offers his arm, and I take it. I’m not sure how I feel about the fact that he so easily beat me at my own game and doesn’t seem the slightest bit interested in capitalizing on the bet the way any other vampire probably would.
Just wants to talk and not pop me open like a walking juice box? That’s a true first. Every other vampire who’s ever played the game wanted to get me downstairs to spank my ass and then feed on me.
Dexter also doesn’t seem unnerved by me, despite realizing that he cannot control me the way vampires can control other humans and even weaker shifters.
I sense he’s very old. Maybe not quite as old as Lucius, but at least as powerful. That’s reinforced when every other vampire besides Lucius and Selene act differential toward him, tipping their heads to him as we pass.
My nipples tighten as my arm curls around his. I feel cool, firm muscles beneath the fabric of his blazer and shirt. He’s around six-three, maybe two hundred and fifty pounds, and broad-shouldered.
What the hell have I gotten myself into?
And what harm would it be to let him—
NO. Absolutely not. Holding vampires at arms’ length has kept me alive and unblooded, even if it has also kept me perpetually frustrated and feeling more than a little envious of some of the sweetbloods.
As we cross the room, I’m well aware of the hungry stares of the vampires who watch us depart. There’s more than a little envy there because I’ve turned all of them down before—or they’ve seen me turn others down—and here’s first-timer Dexter, getting me on his arm.
Not that they realize nothing more than talking will ensue between us.
Add in the evil gazes from mostly women patrons and a few men—humans—that Dexter chose me, and I’m in a no-win situation with pretty much everyone upstairs in terms of my guts being hated.
Wonderful.
We follow Lucius downstairs. Oh, yeah, now I remember the main reason I don’t like coming down here any more than necessary when we’re open. Because the endorphin soup smacks me in the face like a warm, soggy glove and tries to work a few fingers inside my cooter as we hit the bottom of the stairwell. I guess, in some ways, I’m an empath, and it’s always overwhelming to me. Add in the fact that no, I can’t engage in some kinky fun, and yeah… I hate it.
Lucius snaps his fingers, and one of the household humans, a man, steps forward. �
�Make sure the available suite’s ready.”
“Whoa,” I say. “I told Not-Ianto here that I’d come down only to talk.”
The household human hesitates, looking from me to Lucius. All the human staff, except maybe Benny, are terrified of me because they’ve seen me handle myself. Even the vampire staff are impressed by my skills, between my party trick and because they know I always carry a couple of wooden pencils on me. I nearly staked a vamp on the floor one night who was getting rowdy with one of the household humans.
Lucius arches an eyebrow at me. “The alcoves only have curtains. Do you really wish to have your private discussion where everyone else could possibly overhear? While Dexter was at our home last night, I allowed him to sample our special vintage.” My stomach drops, but Lucius continues. “I personally guarantee Dexter will not do anything but talk with you, unless you first come out here and tell me you wish to do more with him. Otherwise, he will not leave this building alive.” He looks at Dexter. “Will you?”
Dexter’s gaze practically burns holes through me and has my clit throbbing in a way not even watching Captain Jack and Ianto making out on-screen usually causes. “I swear.”
In the red lights down here, Dexter’s blue eyes look more reddish grey, intense, but also restrained.
Yeah, I sense that. Restraint. This isn’t some feral, newly turned schmuck without an ounce of willpower. This guy’s old, cold, and controlled.
“Okay, fine.” I point at Lucius. “Because he vouches for you.”
The household human scurries off, and I focus on Selene.
She looks hopeful. “Your verdict?” I ask her.
Her smile is beautiful. “I really like him, Blue.” She looks at Dexter. “Be honest with her and tell her what you told us last night.”
Now they have my interest, even though that’s the last thing I want to admit.
After giving Lucius stink-eye one more time, I head toward the available rear suite as Dexter falls into step behind me.
Not everyone gets to use these. The main vampire staff, like Maximus, Tiberius, Augustus, and others. Or VIPs Lucius okays.
Like Not-Ianto.
They have en suite bathrooms and secure interior locks. Every once in a while, a vampire will stay a few days if they’re new in town and need a safe daytime sleeping spot before they acquire their own.
I stand in the doorway, waiting for the household human to finish checking everything. He pauses in the doorway, bowing his head to me. “It’s ready, ma’am.”
“Thank you.”
He offers me a nervous smile and skitters back to the main part of the dungeon. Turning to Dexter, I hold out a hand, indicating for him to go. “And here we are.”
“After you—ladies first.”
“You have no idea how much of a lady I might or might not be.” I head inside, pausing so I can close and lock the door once he’s inside.
His chuckle tightens my traitorous nipples even more. “You’re absolutely right. I don’t. But I am a man of my word.”
There’s the bed and a comfortable lounging chair, unless I want to sit on the dresser.
Which I don’t.
I automatically take the chair. He can sit on the bed if he wants. “What are we talking about?” I ask.
He doesn’t sit, at first. He slides his hands into his trouser pockets and studies his Berluti loafers for a moment. The guy’s got style—I’ll give him credit for that.
I mean, I expect him to be rich. That’s not a shocker. Old, rich vampires are as much of a cliché as biker werewolves or cage-fighting bear shifters. In fact, if an older vampire isn’t independently wealthy, I’d wonder what the hell is wrong with him. You have to be a special kind of stupid to be several hundred years old, or older, and not have at least a Swiss or Caymanian bank account or something.
“Where do you wish me to begin?” He finally looks into my eyes, and I can tell he feels as unnerved right now as I do.
I also see that’s a considerable tent pole in his pants.
Yowza.
Nope, focus, girlie. That’s a vamp. They’re fine as employers and friends, but not for fucking, and damn sure not for fanging.
“What’d they mean about last night?” I ask. “Let’s start there and work our way back. What’d you tell them?”
He lets out a sigh. “I’m in town on business. As you might guess, Lucius and I go back quite a distance in time. He and my sire shared the same sire, hence why he’s my ‘uncle.’ After I admitted to him that I was considering greeting a sunrise, he asked Selene to bring out a special batch of blood and served it.”
I feel a little bad for him. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a vamp admit they’re…
Wow.
His gaze drops to his loafers again. “He thought perhaps, if I met you, it might change my opinion about…that.”
Okay, yeah, back to feeling pissed off at Lucius. I’m not a supernatural shrink. “Did he tell you I’m no sweetblood?”
I shove away more pounding coming from my mental closet. If I was going to break my personal rule, this would be the vamp to make me do it.
Which is all the more reason why I need to not do it.
“He did.” His gaze angles up. In this light, his eyes once again look a beautiful light blue and are filled with ancient pain. “I’d like to know if I could take you out on a date.”
“A whut?”
A smile plays at the corners of his handsome mouth. “You know, take you out to dinner. Or a movie, perhaps?”
“I kinda know of a nightclub in town.”
He steadily meets my gaze. “Yes, but the owner can be a pretentious git sometimes.”
Now I’m laughing. “Holy shit. Dude. You did not just call the king of the vampires a git.”
“I believe I did.” His lips give up their smile, and I hate that it does things to me no other vampire or man ever has before. He cocks his head. “I’ve known him long enough I can get away with it. He’s not my king. He might as well have accepted a scimitar from a watery bint in some lake.” I laugh again. Holy shit, he knows Monty Python. “I also noticed you weren’t genuflecting or calling him ‘sire.’”
I shrug. “I like to live dangerously.”
“Nooo,” he slowly said. “I don’t think that’s right at all. He hinted there was a story. While I can’t read you, I’d be willing to bet you’ve stayed here under Lucius’ protection because you are danger-averse.”
I don’t want to admit hammer just met nail, so I don’t reply.
Stalemate. We study each other for a long moment before I finally speak. “So, you don’t know Torchwood or Doctor Who, but you can sort of quote Monty Python and the Holy Grail?”
He shrugs. “It’s my favorite movie. I saw it when it first came out, and it made me laugh. At that point, it’d been a long time since anything had made me laugh. It’s one of the few movies I own.”
“Ahh.” Yep, this guy is really lonely and feeling it. Vamps usually don’t allow others to see any hint of weakness on their part, especially loneliness.
He finally speaks again. “Anyway, you were…” Another sigh. “Delicious. Indescribable.”
Of course, there’s another little secret part deep inside me proudly preening over that. “Yeah, he makes a lot of money off me. Kind of creepy, though, when I’m working down here and describing the offerings and knowing some of them include some of me. I try not to think about anything but the cash Lucius hands me when he does it. I let him take a pint from me every so often. Pays me a grand for it.”
“I don’t suppose I could hire you away from him?”
“Uh, let’s see. Let some rando vampire who just blew into town make me a bunch of big promises? That’s a hard pass, sorry.”
But he smiles again. “See? Risk-averse. Can I at least beg you for a strictly platonic and safe date? I’ll even pay one of Lucius’ men to accompany us, if it’d make you feel better. You’d never have to be alone with me.”
I hate to admi
t I’m finding myself liking him and getting a good feeling about him in a way I usually don’t about vamps.
When I hear a muffled see I told you so from my mental closet, I kick the door, hard, to shut it up.
I inhale, and his scent reminds me of rich, sweet pipe tobacco and dark chocolate. “I don’t know anything about you, for starters. Let’s cover that ground.”
He tugs on the perfect creases in his trousers as he settles on the edge of the bed. “Dexter Van Sussex. I currently run a hotel and casino in Atlantic City—”
I hold up a hand, feeling simultaneously relieved and disappointed. Of course he was too good to be true. “Stop right there. I’m out.” I stand. “I don’t get mixed up in organized crime.”
“Neither do I. Ask Lucius, if you wish. I run an honest operation. I’m about to age out of the city and want to open a hotel and casino here in Tucson. I’m visiting here, speaking with Lucius to secure his agreement and arrange a meeting with the Tucson wolf pack Alpha through Lucius. I want to work with their pack, as well.”
“Garrett Green?”
“Yes. You’ve heard of him?”
I snort. “Dude, he’s my fricking landlord.”
7
Dexter
Now that I’m alone with Eilidh, I deeply inhale with every breath I take and realize…
I still cannot truly smell her.
She has an ephemeral scent—like rain, like a cool, spring breeze.
Like warm sunlight.
Definitely not like a human. Damn sure not like any shifter I’ve ever scented before.
Or…any other creature.
I have a feeling it will drive me mad before I figure it out.
That she will drive me to madness. I also belatedly realize it was probably her scent I detected upstairs in the office.
“He’s your landlord?” I manage.
“Yeah. Don’t let his biker exterior fool you, either. Guy’s smart and loaded. He and his crew started flipping houses, and it didn’t take them long to own a goodly chunk of real estate in this city. Plus, his mate’s an attorney. She’s someone you don’t fuck with, either.”
Her Vampire Obsession Page 6