“No. She is my responsibility. I am not sending her to Gregor without me there to protect her.”
“Erika could go.”
Erika was good, I knew this, but Amisi was my responsibility. Like I have said before, returning Amisi harmed to Nafrini and Nero was tantamount to declaring a war with the Egyptians. Another enemy we did not need.
Michel sighed. “You are right.” Michel was, if nothing else, always a good reader of the political climate in any given situation. Survival at all costs, the old vampire stand by.
“I will need time to digest this, ma douce. To prepare myself. It will not be easy to let you go to him.”
But, perhaps necessary. I needed to face him for myself too, not just for Amisi.
His arms relaxed and he tilted my chin up, looking me in my eyes. His were dangerous swirls of magenta in amongst the amethyst, a little startling, but not unexpected.
“You are mine,” he said softly, then kissed me. I expected him to be demanding, possessive in his kiss, but it was sweet and soft and so beautiful, making me crave him more than if he had simply forced a dominant invasion of my mouth.
He laughed against me. “The claiming is not stupid, ma douce, it knows how to entice.” He kissed me once more and turned away, leaving me standing alone in the bathroom completely awash in my desire for him, my need for him to take me now.
Damn, this was going to fun wasn't it?
I showered slowly, letting my body return to me and when I came out of the stall and glanced in the bedroom, I saw my clothes neatly stacked on the edge of the bed, along with my Svante sword. I'd wondered what had happened to it when the paramedics had come. Had they cut the holster away from me? It seemed complete now, maybe Michel had replaced it. I stroked my fingers over the hilt, tracing the design, imagining the dragon dancing all over the handle.
When I came downstairs dressed and ready to face the night, Michel had also showered and changed and was in the lounge talking on his cellphone dressed in his immaculate Armani suit.
He glanced up at me and his now deep blue eyes flashed amethyst, then he returned to his conversation. I didn't bother to listen in, just went into the kitchen and quickly made a coffee. I needed caffeine now.
I was just sipping my cappuccino when Michel came in slipping his cellphone in his pocket.
“The Taniwhas are on the move. A group of twenty have just left their land in a convoy of cars, heading into the city. I have some of my human servants following them, they will appear less obvious than any of my line. Despite our formidable skills, the Taniwhas are somehow able to sense us. I think it best we not delay and get to Sensations quickly, ma douce.” He picked up the keys to the BMW off the kitchen bench. “Would you object to my driving?”
I smiled slowly, I kind of guessed he wasn't going to obey the speed limit and the thought of Michel behind the wheel of that car made me hot all over again. His eyes flashed in recognition of my desire and he swallowed slowly, no doubt forcing himself not to act on my signals.
“You are not making this easy, ma belle. Get. In. The. Car.” His voice was a low growl.
I jumped, almost spilt my coffee, but managed to catch it before it slopped over the side of the cup and placed it slowly down on the bench, my eyes never leaving his. He took a step towards me, a low noise coming from the back of his throat, almost a hum, but more like a growl. I kept my eyes locked on his a second longer, then spun and ran to the garage. Of course, I knew what running would do to him. I was really suicidal right now, wasn't I?
The predator in him chased me, but I was fast, faster than he was used to. And I knew the layout of this house well. Of course, so did he. By the time I made it to the garage, I thought I had him, though. I looked over my shoulder briefly as I entered the room, but he wasn't there. I realised my mistake as soon as I ran straight into his solid body. He'd moved in front of me and now stood beside the car. I'd run straight into his arms without even realising.
He lifted me off the ground and spun me around, opening the passenger side of the car at the same time. He all but threw me in the seat, fastening my seatbelt and leaning over me. He was breathing heavily, his eyes beyond magenta. “We will continue this at a later time, ma chasse.”
My hunted. I thrilled at the idea of being hunted by Michel. He took a shattering breath in, still leaning over me, closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.
“Mon Dieu, ma douce. Tu appelles sur moi.”
I smiled at the fact that more and more French was slipping into Michel's vocabulary. He was losing it big time.
“Big time,” he whispered and pulled away appearing at the driver's side door in an instant.
He slid in, all sleek moves and gorgeous motion. After adjusting the seat to suit him, he pushed the button for the automatic garage door opener and started the car. He didn't look at me, but a small smile was playing on his lips. He knew I was watching him, my breath an uneven rhythm in my chest.
“Hold on tight,” he said and spun the car backwards and in a slide out of the garage, somehow getting us facing the right way on the road outside the house. I tried not to smile, but failed. I had complete trust in his driving ability, but I knew he was going to push me to the limit of that trust right now. I made myself not close my eyes. He laughed, before placing the car in gear and then we were off.
It was like that scene from The Bourne Identity, the car chase where Matt Damon makes the mini do unbelievably stupid things, except this was no mini and we weren't tearing down steep steps and narrow Parisian streets against the flow of traffic. The BMW slid in and out of the vehicles along Tamaki Drive at close to 180km/h, barely missing obstacles, just staying within the lines on our side of the road. We would have seemed little more than a blur to pedestrians and just a flash of dark colour to those cars we passed. He had to slow as we approached the city and the traffic became more dense, but he still managed to slip through tight gaps and ignore traffic signals, bringing us to Queen Street and then Sensations in a matter of seconds, not minutes.
I had hardly drawn a breath the entire way, it had been thrilling, disturbing and strangely satisfying all at once. My pulse was racing as the car negotiated the garage entrance at the club, the tyres squealing on the smooth concrete of the garage floor as it tore into the underground space and slid to a stop in the usual spot reserved for me, close to the doors, right next to a security camera.
I was out and around his side of the car before he had even taken a step away, throwing my body into his arms, kissing him with fervent need. He laughed against my lips and kissed me back, then pulled away slightly to whisper, “We are being watched, ma douce.” Nodding his head towards the security camera.
“Were we being watched when you tried to have your way with me in the back seat of my car?”
“Yes.” He kissed me again and then spun me back towards the car, pressing his body against mine, moulding himself to me.
“You naughty boy. You like an audience?” I was getting breathless, he just growled in response, moving his hips against me.
“I like my own to see that you are mine.”
I laughed against his lips, but before I could reply the garage door whirred into action again, the headlights of one of Michel's Land Rover Discoveries shining through the grating of the door as it slowly rose up and out of the way.
Michel pulled back slightly. “Right,” he said between clenched teeth. Then again, “Right.” He shook his head, unable to take his eyes off my mouth, unable to pull all the way back from me.
“I should like to hunt you sometime, ma douce, to chase you.” It was almost a request, as though he needed me to accept his right to hunt me down. How could I refuse? I just nodded, a little star-struck by the look of hunger on his face.
He smiled slowly, took my hand in his and turned towards the door to the club. I followed, a little stunned and way more meekly than I would usually. He was really doing a number on me, wasn't he?
The club was obviously closed to the publi
c, being a Monday, that wasn't entirely unusual. It was just Michel's vampires, quietly drinking, talking and I had the sense, grieving. They were gathered for Bruno, to say goodbye. My heart began aching immediately. Michel just squeezed my hand and walked in as though he owned the place. Duh, he did. The vampires perked up straight away, an almost tangible lift in spirits. They needed to see him all right, they needed him amongst them, reassuring them. I also gathered, by the looks his hand in mine was receiving, that they needed to see Michel with me, touching me. As though his happiness, completeness, was also theirs. I guessed it was the blood bond they all shared with him, a certain amount of his wellbeing was transmuted through the connection he had to them. They all seemed to relax and smile more as soon as their eyes landed on his hold of me.
He made sure they had all seen his hand in mine before he released me, but his arm shot around my shoulders and he drew me to him, laying his lips against my forehead and running his finger along my jaw.
“Go find your Amisi, ma douce. I must commune with my line.” I nodded and stood on the tip of my toes to kiss his lips. There was a collective sigh through the room. It was a little creepy. Michel just smiled knowingly at me and whispered, “We are vampyre.”
I pulled away and glanced around the room. All eyes were on me with a type of hunger, but not the type that scares you, it was more an ownership thing. They were looking at me as though I was also theirs. Theirs to protect, theirs to serve, theirs to worship. Like I said, a little creepy.
I spotted Amisi with Erika and Jett. The vampires a little closer than I had seen them before, practically up against each other, as they sat opposite Amisi. At least Erika had been looking after my girl.
I went and sat next to them, a Bacardi and Coke appearing over the top of me, Doug's hand resting on my shoulder as he placed it on the table top. He didn't say anything, but the fact he had touched me at all was a bit weird. He quickly removed his hand and walked away. It was Jett who answered the puzzled look that must have appeared on my face.
“Every vampire in the room will touch you at some point tonight. Doug was selected as the first, we felt you would not be opposed to his affection, albeit brief.”
I blew a long breath out of my mouth slowly and lifted the drink to my lips. Vampires, crazy fuckers that was for sure.
“How are you feeling?” Amisi asked, taking a drink from a glass of white wine.
“Great.” I was pleased we were onto more normal topics of conversation. She just smiled knowingly at me.
“When did you guys leave home today?” I asked.
“At sundown.” Erika this time. “We thought you'd like some privacy.” Now she had that damn knowing smile on her face. I felt my cheeks blush slightly. They both laughed.
“You make a fine couple, Lucinda,” Amisi said, eyes all serious again. “That is why he did not act on how he felt, he saw it too.”
I frowned at her, unable to keep up with what she was saying.
“Nero,” she offered. “He recognised it the moment he saw you both together. The moment he saw your Bond glow in fact. He has accepted it, Luce, trust me on this.”
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just sipped my drink and watched the crowd. My eyes of course found their way to Michel. He was surrounded by some of his line, they were sad, but happy at the same time, reliving memories of Bruno, communing with Michel. His eyes lifted over the shoulder of one of his vampires and locked with mine.
I didn't need to hear the words he whispered in my head, I could see his desire in his eyes. Mine.
Maybe the claiming was feeling threatened by the number of vampires in the room right now, even if they were his, but I got the distinct impression that he would gladly take me right then and there to prove his claim. His lips curved in a smile at my thoughts.
Oh boy.
Jett stood then, I noticed his hand briefly touch Erika's and then he picked up his drink and said, “I think I'll catch up with the master.” He nodded at Amisi and as he passed me, he brushed his hand along my back. It didn't feel nearly as creepy as I had thought and I was guessing the more of Michel's vampires who did it throughout the evening, the more natural it would in fact feel.
Welcome to the world of vampyre.
I guess I was finally home.
Chapter 29
Communing
“So,” I said to break the silence that had descended on our table. “What's the news?”
“Erika has been letting me practise with the swords. The set-up downstairs is great. I'd like to get proficient before I have to return to Egypt. It would be nice to be able to do something Nero has not done before.”
“Showing the boss up, eh?” I asked, winking at her.
“Absolutely.” She smiled cheekily at me. “He's too damn confident for his own good.”
I agreed with her there.
“Aaaand what about you Ms. Anders, anything new to report?” I grinned at Erika. She blushed, such a cool response in a vampire.
“He's sexy, OK? That crooked nose just does it for me.”
Both Amisi and I burst out laughing. “Each to their own,” I managed between guffaws.
The whole mood of the room had lifted. Not just because Michel had arrived, but in direct response to my laughing, I think. I could feel it lifting as Amisi and I were choking back tears, laughing at Erika's expense. She had also joined in, unable to stop herself. Music started up, cheerful and upbeat, voices started to rise and before we knew it a party was in full swing.
Vampires do mourn their dead, but it is more a celebration of their death, than a sadness at their passing. Bruno had gone out fighting for a noble cause, protecting his master. I don't think the vampires here could have been prouder to have known him than they were right now. That nobility of his actions made their celebrating his final death so much easier, so much more convivial.
Drinks were being handed out, some vampires had actually started dancing. Although Michel has always seemed to have more male vampires than female, all of a sudden, there seemed to be a fairly even split of the sexes. I realised there were a lot more vampires here than I had seen of his at any one time. And a hell of a lot I didn't recognise, mainly females.
“Is it just me, or are there a lot of female vampires here all of a sudden?” I asked no one in particular.
“All of Michel's vampires were called home after Bruno's death. It is always the way when one so high in the echelon is lost to us.” Erika took a sip of her drink. “As to there being more females here than you have seen before, I would say that is by choice. Michel has kept the women away. He probably did not want you to dwell on the fact that he has turned so many over the years.”
I looked around the room and was struck by the sheer beauty of them all. They were stunning, typical vampire sleekness, all sexy curves and feminine lines. I had to smile, albeit a little bitterly. It had actually never occurred to me that Michel would have turned so many females, it made complete sense. How could they not have been attracted to him, lured in by him? And, I reluctantly acknowledged, it did stir some jealousy deep, deep inside. To have turned a female, he would have had to have been close to them. Very close. I suddenly had an urge to find him in the room and lay my own claim then and there.
He appeared at my shoulder instantly, leaning down and whispering in my ear. “You called?” I spun in my seat and immediately felt trapped by his gaze. He smiled slowly. “I do believe I approve of your jealousy, ma douce. I approve very much.”
Amisi and Erika had gone quiet. Just watching the scene play out in front of them. It was probably better than any soap opera on T.V. and they had front row seats.
Michel held his hand out to me. “May I have this dance, Mademoiselle?”
I didn't hesitate, just slipped my hand in his and let him lead me to the dance floor. The vampires making way as we approached, parting as they would for royalty. I didn't even register the movements, my heart was in my throat at the look on Michel's face. It was utterly sexy
, totally captivating and entirely mine.
He took me in his arms and started to dance, moulding my body to his, making me lay my face against his chest, unable to look up at him when this close. He moved with smooth grace and confidence, owning the dance floor, making us glide over it, turning us in circles, making my head a little dizzy, or was that just the scent of him? The music went on for an eternity, no one else existed, just me and him. The feel of his hard length against me, his strong arms around me, his broad chest beneath my cheek.
As the music came to an end and another song started up he stilled us, now in the middle of the dance floor and raised my chin, allowing me to see the hunger in his eyes again. I licked my lips and he purred against me, his chest vibrating with the sound.
“May I kiss you?” He didn't need to ask, but the fact he did made the moment so much more surreal. I just nodded, unable to find my voice.
He slowly cupped a hand behind my head, continued to rub his thumb along my jaw and keeping his eyes fixed on mine, lowered his mouth to hover above my own.
“How much do you want it?” he whispered, his hot breath against my lips making me shiver in his arms. I still couldn't find my voice.
“A lot?” he asked quietly, still not bridging the gap. “Tell me?”
I shook my head slowly from side to side. I was trapped, barely breathing. For the life of me, I didn't want this moment to end and I was getting the impression he was more than happy to drag it out for me.
“I am betting, you would beg for it if you could find your voice. Will you beg for me, ma douce?” He held me firmly, not allowing me to pull away, his eyes devouring mine, his mouth still so close. I tried to move against him, to finish the moment, to lay my lips on his, but he held firm and just growled softly and whispered, “Beg me and I am yours.”
I would usually be fighting this, my internal monologue was humming, not scared, not in warning, just letting me know I could do better than just acquiesce to his demands. I was thankful for its reminder. He was playing a game, of course, having some fun, but it was in front of his entire line, who were all avidly watching their master seduce his kindred, right in plain sight, in the centre of the dance floor. For the good of all Nosferatin, I couldn't let him win.
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