Viv made it very plain she didn’t want him or anyone like him.
He grated the words out, “Dress, I need to feed too. We’re going to have dinner with Case and his mate tonight.”
“Not sure I want to try another piece of steak.”
“Whatever you want, the Looking Glass serves it. I’ll leave you to get ready. I have to check on a few things.” Grabbing the doorknob, he stopped. “Do you want to do this? We can stay here.”
“I’m fine, give me time to think.” She glared at him, angry color dotting her cheeks. “I’ll let you know.”
Great, she’s mad.
“Don’t take too long. I’m hungry.” Good job, asshole. Piss her off more. She definitely wasn’t the type to take any shit from him. Not quietly anyway.
“The sooner you get out, the faster I’m ready.”
Yanking the door behind him, Alek jumped when it slammed in the frame.
“Should have just vanished, dickhead,” he said aloud, cursing himself and his stupid temper as he stomped down the hall.
Bastard. What bug crawled up his ass and died? Wish it had bit the hell out of him. “No you don’t,” she said. Stretching the kinks out, Viv touched her wound and it ached a little. “Strong blood,” she murmured. Great, now I’m talking to myself.
Walking to the table, she spied the bottle of Dom 1998. Couldn’t get any better. That’s what Alek had gone back to get. Champagne. She’d been distracted, missed the transgressor because she’d thought he went back to talk to the manager.
Damn.
She shoved her hand into her hair and it stuck where a plait started. Too weak this morning to do anything but drink his blood, she hadn’t done this. Pulling it over her shoulder, she looked at the crooked braid.
Tears sprang from her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
Alek. She drew the hair under her nose, breathed in his scent. He’d come back and fixed her hair.
“God help me, I’m in love with him.” Saving her life, sharing his blood and his innermost thoughts had already chipped at the wall she thought she’d built around her heart. Imagining his strong fingers doing something so simple as braiding her hair sent the weak façade of bricks crashing away. “Now what?”
It wasn’t just a mating call anymore. Her heart wanted him as much as her mind and body. This man, beast, whatever he was—Alek—was the rest of her life.
Viviana didn’t want to be without him.
Wiping away the tears and cleansing her body, she magically redid her hair. Viv left it loose because he liked it that way. Tonight, no leather. She donned a short, fitted peach-colored dress in silk. It complemented her brown skin and showed off her legs. She flashed on a pair of spiked heels in the same color.
Feeling like a girly-girl, she said aloud, “I do not want to be a hairy-assed cat, damn it.”
The mantel over the fireplace held a bunch of candles and, finding some matches there, she lit the candles and spaced them out around the room.
Minus the ability to dematerialize, Viv still had some magic at her disposal. She snatched two champagne glasses from thin air and placed them on the table beside the bottle then sat in a big leather chair facing the door with her slender legs crossed.
She waited.
Hearing his steps in the hall, she was glad he hadn’t used powers. Viv wanted to watch his face when he walked in, see his eyes light with the desire she’d smelled on him before he left. Her heart beat so hard, pumping the new blood around, she felt like it would jump out of her chest.
The doorknob turned slowly and he walked in. Stopping dead in his tracks, he stared at her. “Jesus.”
The pleading note in his voice shook her to the core. Maybe he doesn’t want me. Pushing the thought from her mind, she rose from the chair and slowly pivoted on her heels toward the table where the champagne sat with the glasses. Filling both, she spun around and, as sexily as a lithe warrior could walk, she carried one to him.
“You take my breath away.”
His hand brushed hers as he took the glass, sending a spark of lust right between her legs. She’d decided to go braless and the thin, cool silk rubbed her nipples each time she breathed.
Viv needed to do something so she tipped the glass up and swallowed it all.
She swished back to the table and sat the flute down. Twisting around, she rested her butt against the edge and gripped the wood for balance.
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“Viv, I—”
She cut him off. “Come here.” She noticed his outfit for the first time. He’d chosen to forego the normal leather too. He wore a white vee-neck shirt highlighting the dark hair on his chest. His charcoal slacks hung perfectly from narrow hips.
He reached her and she leaned into him, planting a light kiss on his mouth. Her tongue caressed the sparkling flavor left there. The wood her hands had latched on to kept her knees from buckling. Alek had a powerful effect on her senses. Having him, tasting all of him was what she needed.
His mouth held no more secrets. She knew every sweet corner and explored them all. Letting go of the table with one hand, Viv reached for the front of his slacks.
Alek groaned and his cock sprang to life under her hand as she peppered his face with kisses then moved her lips down his corded neck.
“You don’t owe me anything.”
“I want this,” she said. Raising her head, she stared at him. “I’ve never done anything I didn’t want to.” It was her turn to laugh. “Right now I want to do you. You owe me.”
Viv intended to take payment in full as she lifted the shirt over his head and tossed it into the chair. No magic, no rushing. Slow. She tweaked his nipples, teased them into hard nubs. His moans reverberated around the room as her lips captured one then the other.
“Give me a break.”
“I’m not done yet.” Another throaty chuckle slipped through her lips. “Not by a long shot.”
Unbuckling the only strap of leather on him, she undid his belt, slid the button through its hole and unzipped his pants. Reaching in, she grasped his heavy cock and nudged the tight skin up and down, letting her fingernails scrape over his sac.
Viv had him right where she wanted him—in the palm of her hand.
“Christ almighty,” he growled through clenched teeth.
“I want to taste you.” She shoved his slacks down until they dropped around his ankles. Viv stooped in front of him and rested her back against the table. “All of you.”
“Goddamn, baby.”
Her tongue darted out, touched the tip of his penis. So good. She needed more.
Squeezing his buttocks in her hands, she encompassed the wet tip with her lips and sucked hard. Pulling back, she blew warm air across the head and watched a drop of cum slip from the tiny slit peeping at her. That’s what she wanted, a taste of Alek, his essence. Lord, he was sweet.
Using her hand, Viv pushed his cock up into his belly, ran her tongue down the tender underside and nibbled on his balls. Pulling one then the other in her mouth, she sucked until she was satisfied. She was so tempted to take a nip out of him, draw blood, really taste all of him.
One hand tugged his hips forward, bringing his thickness back to her lips. She took just the head in her mouth. Working the skin back and forth with her fingers, she used her tongue skillfully, wrapping it around his cock. She took him as far down her throat as she could. Slow and deep. Over and over.
“Please,” he whispered as his hands tangled in her hair.
Her tongue played along his shaft. “Please what?”
“Let me make love to you.”
“I’m not done yet.”
Taking him back in her mouth, Viv laved up and down his length, swallowing more of his cock each time. She used one hand to control how deep he went, the other still clutched his butt. Gripping her by the hair, Alek found his rhythm and began to pump in and out of her mouth. She gently scraped her teeth across the crown each time it reached her lips.
&nbs
p; “Aww, hell… I’m gonna come.” He went up on his toes, squeezed his ass cheeks together hard as he pushed deep in her mouth. She worked faster, sucked more, waiting for his orgasm, waiting for him to fill her mouth. “Harder, baby, suck it harder,” he yelled.
Viv did and each time he pulled out she used the hand on his butt to bring him back in. Her tongue stroked the underside and her lips smacked against her other hand, circling the base of his cock. She pulled and sucked as hard as she could.
“It’s yours, honey,” he bellowed, shortening his jabs between her lips. “Now, Viv, oh sweet Jesus.” He spurted a stream of warm cum into her mouth, down her throat.
She suckled until he settled back on his heels then she lapped furiously at the tip, cleaning and taking every drop.
Finished, she grabbed his slacks and, pulling them up, stood on wobbly legs. She straightened her short dress and walked to the chair to retrieve his shirt. Returning, she drew it over his head while he leaned against the table, breathing hard. She tucked it back in his pants, zipped them up, pushed the button through the hole and buckled his belt.
“Now I’m done. And I’m starved.” Planting a tiny kiss on his lips, she twirled around and walked out the door he’d left open.
“Shit.” He scrambled to catch her.
She sashayed down the hall. “Keep up, cat, or I’ll leave you here.”
Chapter Six
Had Case been right? Viv said nothing about what she had read in his mind. Her injury had been bad, perhaps she’d forgotten.
Alek didn’t believe that for one second.
Following her down the long hallway was pure torture. His cock was swollen again and damn he wanted to be inside her pussy. She swung her ass in front of him without a care in the world. Maybe…
“Are we traveling the same way? My dress might blow up.” She giggled, a tinkling, happy sound that reached right into his chest, ripped his heart out and dashed it against the wall.
He had to know if she could love him, damaged as he was.
“I can handle dematerializing with someone as tiny as you.”
She came to a dead stop. It was his turn to chuckle.
“I am not tiny. I’m big enough to kick your ass. Don’t let the pretty outfit and shoes fool you.”
They reached the front door and he grabbed her by the arm. “Viv, about last night, I can explain.”
“Hey, you went back in to get champagne. I should have paid attention to my surroundings and not worried about you picking up where you left off with your ex.”
“I told you, Hol and I were not in a relationship, damn it. We were both single and we were there for each other. It’s different now.”
Her eyes pierced him. “What’s changed, Alek?”
“I did.” Here it comes. She’d want to know about his future relationship with Nikol. He couldn’t guarantee her anything when the prince got home. He’d be drawn right back into their web of desire.
“Why did you walk out on me last night?”
“You didn’t want me there.” Uneasy, he turned away from her. “I’m a hairy-assed cat. I walk on all fours and I like it, Viv.”
“I…I’m hungry. Can we just go?”
“At your service.” Alek was glad to drop it. He wouldn’t know what to say if she asked the hard question anyway. Besides, he was hungry too.
He’d fed at Big Bear before Case dropped by but it took a lot out of him to feed her. Human blood worked so much better than an animal kill. The skier had recovered quickly and he’d escorted the man home safely after he thought he’d bumped his head in a fall.
Reign never killed humans.
He snatched her against his body and disappeared to the Looking Glass. The lot was full of cars but no one was outside. Those still here had settled at the bar or in private rooms for the night. They’d all be looking for a good time.
Entering the club with Viv on his arm, he sniffed Case out immediately. He nodded at Alek from where he sat chatting up a wolf shifter. Alek peered around the room and found Tres. She glanced up and came right over.
“Damn it’s good to see you,” she said, throwing her arms around him. “Wow, Case said you had yourself a foxy-ass lady.” She reached her hand out to Viv. “I’m Tres. Alek and I go way back.”
He sure as hell hoped Viv wouldn’t start any shit. Tres was really tiny but with Case’s blood in her veins she was far from easy to handle.
“I’m Viviana, call me Viv.”
Well, shit, that was too easy.
“Alek, visit with your friend, I’ll sit with Tres and get to know her better.”
“Sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine but I could eat something. I’ll have another run at a very rare steak. You can show me how to chew it.” Her broad smile sat his blood racing and his cock reared its big head. This vamp had his number. And if he looked in a mirror he’d find hers tattooed on his forehead.
“I’ll take care of it.”
As long as Holly stayed out of the way, the night could only get better.
“We gave her some time off. We decided to stay, hoping you guys would drop by.”
“Stay out of my mind, damn it.” He laughed and sat beside Case, who had been a lifesaver last night and today. “Thanks for stopping by this morning.”
“You know I love you, bro. Couldn’t stand to see you hurt. How are things?”
“She hasn’t mentioned anything. We haven’t talked much since she got up. The champagne was a hit,” Alek said.
“Hmm, I bet it was.”
“Being mated could be good I guess. We’ll see how it plays out.”
“She’ll come round. They give us a merry chase, don’t they? Like being on the hunt in the old days.”
“I don’t remember chasing water buffalo being so hard.”
He glanced back at the table where Viv and Tres seemed to be hitting it off. They shared a laugh over something.
“How long did it take for Tres to learn to keep you out of her mind?”
“You’re safe until you change her. Viv’s got old blood in her veins, though, I can barely read her.” He winked at Alek. “You may as well give up, it’ll wear you out.”
“Damn.”
“Come on, I’ll show you the new room we had done this week.” Case peered at him. “Does she know you’re a performer and that you like to be watched having sex?”
“We haven’t gotten that far in our relationship yet. Shit, now I know how you felt with Tres watching me. If I smelled you getting hot for her I’d claw your heart out.”
Case laughed so loud in the quiet hallway Alek was sure everyone heard him.
“Tres would beat you to it. Not a woman in the world gets my blood running like my little snow cat and it’ll be like that until we die. You’ll see. Still, I like to watch. We both do so it’s no big deal.” He pushed in a code and threw open the door to a room three times larger than any other on the premises.
A king-size bed sat against one of the four mirrored walls.
Alek asked, “No two-ways?”
“This is for patrons who like to be up close and personal. It’s only for those who can handle that kind of action.”
“Nice. In the old days I’d have loved a space like this.”
In the far corner was a fully stocked bar and a dining table with four comfortable chairs. An oversized sofa sat in the middle of the floor facing the bed.
Looking around the walls, he saw what he searched for. One mirror had a small glass button. Alek pushed it and a panel swished open. The spacious pale-blue bathroom held a sunken hot tub and was stocked with plush navy-blue towels, oils and anything else an adventurous couple would need.
“Nice. This will bring in big bucks.”
“I hope. Push the same button, the door closes.”
“I need to go order a couple steaks, you guys joining us?” Alek asked.
“Taken care of and should be here any moment.” Alek’s mouth opened but Case raised his hand to stop hi
m. “A meal with friends, man. You know better than that. It’s a private room where we can talk and catch up without being disturbed. No one does anything they don’t want to in my clubs.”
Alek’s lips compressed in a stern line. Suppose he couldn’t perform anymore? Would he be okay with that? Hell, there was too much to think about with this mating crap. What if he freaked when somebody watched her? He spun around at the chuckling behind him.
“I’m sorry, it’s just funny to see a cat, you in particular, go through the same thing I did. Things have a way of working out, Alek.”
“She doesn’t even want to be a cat, no way am I asking her if she likes to perform. This is going to take some time.”
A tray rattled in the hall and he looked up to see Tres pushing a trolley loaded with steaming rare steaks and all the trimmings into the room. Viv, on her heels, closed the door.
“Dinner is served. Don’t look for this treatment all the time, Case.”
“Babe, you never have to lift a finger if you don’t want to. Wait, sometimes you do.”
Alek watched closely as his friend kissed his mate on the back of her neck. Would he ever have an easygoing relationship like theirs?
Viv silently came up behind him and her arms slipped around his waist. “I’m hungry, lover.”
Viv was glad she’d taken the time to talk with Tres. She had liked her immediately and could tell she loved her mate, Case, fiercely.
“Why are you cats afraid of sexuality?”
“You carry his scent and that’s the only reason I’ll answer the question you’re trying to ask. You want to know why Alek is afraid to take a mate.”
That was the other thing she liked about the snow leopard. Tres respected her friendship with Alek, protected his privacy. The tiny cat valued her friends and would be a hell of an opponent if someone tried to hurt one.
“Vampyres are sexual creatures. We enjoy our carnal senses.”
“Cats are different,” Tres said. “In the wild most of us live solitary lives, only looking for sexual release a few times a year to procreate.” She peered into her drink as if she were reading tea leaves. “God, the Fates, screwed us up. I’m snow leopard and no cat is more elusive—except the tiger.” She glared across the table, her eyes bright. “I’m a shifter, well, I was a shifter. The Kind have vampyre blood like Case and Alek but the natural instincts of the cat stays intact. Alek deals with more than the rest of us. Vampyre-infected blood runs in his veins, he has the genes of a solitary tiger and the spirit of the most social of felines—a lion, who is used to a pride full of females.” Tres’ face lit in a smile. “I’m mated to a lion so I know. I’m his only woman and he protects me as if I’m the whole pride.” Her smile disappeared quickly. “No other male would ever encroach on his female or set up camp in his space and certainly none would ever try to be his lover. Cats just aren’t built like that.”
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