by R. E. Butler
Rage tilted her head and kissed her with a soft growl. “We will be as well.”
They both offered her their arms and she took them, walking between them as they headed for the elevators. He could hear her heart racing and feel her happiness through their mating connection. Her emotions magnified his own. He’d never been happier.
They walked through the offices and out to the garage, where Temple and Ven waited by one of the coven’s SUV limos wearing black suits, reminding Vex of the human bodyguards he’d seen in movies. All they were missing were ear pieces and sunglasses. Ven opened the door and Rage helped Angie in.
“Directly to the restaurant?” Temple asked.
“Yes,” Vex said. “After dinner, you can take the scenic route home.”
Temple nodded. “With traffic, the drive should be forty minutes.”
Vex climbed into the spacious SUV and joined Rage and Angie on one of the bench seats. Ven closed the door. A few moments later, the two front doors opened and closed, and the vehicle pulled away from the parking space.
“Would you like a drink?” Vex asked, gesturing to the fully-equipped bar.
Angie settled back on the plush leather and shook her head. Her hands slid down each of their thighs, her nails grazing the fabric. “Not right now. This is the nicest car I’ve ever been in.”
“The coven has a fleet of vehicles for any occasion,” Vex said. He rested his arm behind her and brushed his thumb down her cheek. “They’re all equipped for safety – bulletproof glass, reinforced doors, and weapons hidden for emergencies.”
Her eyes went wide. “I’m surprised about the weapons.”
Rage wrapped a lock of her hair around his finger and tugged until she swung her gaze to him. “When Mishka and Harmony were first together, the coven attacked one of the limos. Although they were unharmed, we were the only ones with weapons, so Mishka had to use his bare hands to fight.”
“I’m sure it was no hardship,” she said. “I looked at the tapestries on his office wall. He’s a fierce warrior. Just like my two beloveds.”
“He has to be ruthless to be master,” Vex said. “But hand to hand fighting, even against humans, can be dangerous. It’s never wise to underestimate the enemy.”
She hummed in agreement and leaned over to kiss Rage. Her hum turned into a growl that sounded like a purr. She eased from Rage’s mouth and leaned into Vex, pressing her hand to the back of his neck and drawing him close. Her lips whispered over his, her eyes bright with passion. She pressed her lips to his and opened them, and he swiped his tongue along hers in a slow motion, savoring the sweet taste of her. Her hand tightened on his neck, her fingers playing over his collar, and she chuckled as she drew away.
“How can you set me on fire with just a kiss?”
“You do the same to us,” Rage said.
Vex’s brain was too fogged over for him to answer, so he nodded in agreement. She was the epitome of everything he’d ever thought was sexy, and he thanked his lucky stars that she was theirs. For the remainder of the drive, they traded kisses, keeping carefully away from any serious touching. She smelled like heaven and tasted like a dream, and he wanted to part her thighs and park his face there for a few hundred years. Which he’d get started on as soon as they were done with dinner.
Ven knocked twice and opened the door. Vex got out and looked at the doors of the restaurant where two male vampires wearing tuxedos held them open in anticipation of their arrival. As members of Mishka’s family, they were entitled to benefits that other vampires didn’t receive, including special treatment at places like Bistro Claret. Angie took Vex’s hand and slid out of the SUV. Rage followed.
“We’ll be close,” Ven said in a low voice. “Text when you’re ready for pick up.”
“Thank you,” Angie said.
Ven nodded, shut the door, and got into the passenger seat. Vex and Rage escorted Angie into the restaurant. The door attendants bowed slightly as they walked by in a sign of respect to their position within the coven.
“Welcome, welcome,” Frederick, the restaurant’s manager said as he greeted them with a deep bow. He was a vampire and part of the coven.
“Thank you,” Vex said.
“We’ve reserved the chef’s table for maximum privacy,” the male said as he led them through the restaurant and toward the kitchen. “The chef has prepared a gourmet meal for your beloved.”
They were seated in a circular booth in the kitchen, in view of the cooking staff. Angie sat between him and Rage, as two staff members appeared. One filled a glass with sparkling water for Angie and the other filled their wine glasses with SyBl.
“My name is Jean-Peter,” the male said as he opened a bottle of wine. “The chef recommends this wine for tonight if it pleases the lady.”
Angie’s eyes were wide. She glanced at Rage and then Vex. “Whatever the chef thinks is best is fine with me.”
“Excellent,” Jean-Peter said. He poured a bit into the glass, let her taste it, and when she’d agreed it was perfect, he filled the glass. “The card contains your courses for the evening. The first course will be along shortly.”
He disappeared and Angie lifted her glass of wine and held it close to Vex’s glass of SyBl. “They look almost the same. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we were all drinking wine.”
“Should we toast?” he asked.
“Yes. How about to a wonderful night?” she said.
“A perfect beloved mate for two lucky males,” Vex said.
“And the future,” Rage added.
“To all of that,” Angie said, clinking her glass lightly to theirs.
They each took a drink and watched the kitchen proceedings. The first course arrived, and after he and Rage assured her that they didn’t mind watching her eat, she tucked into the food. Each course was perfectly timed to arrive just as she was finishing. Angie raved about the food, and when the dessert course arrived, the delicate chocolate mousse cake was topped with gold leaf and paired with raspberries.
“It’s almost too pretty to eat,” Angie said.
“Would you like to save it then?” Vex teased.
“I said almost.”
He smiled, watching as she took a bite and moaned rapturously. Vex and Rage both stifled groans.
Angie’s cheeks turned pink and she put her fingertips to her mouth. “That sounded wholly inappropriate in public.”
“Just promise to make that sound again. Later,” Rage said.
Angie’s eyes darkened, her lashes casting shadows on her cheeks as she lowered them. “I promise.”
They’d kept their hands off her, for the most part, during the dinner. But now the time had drawn near as she finished her dessert. Rage subtly signaled the waiter, who appeared with a glass of champagne. The table was cleared, and a bouquet of red roses was handed to Vex, who gave them to Angie.
She inhaled the sweet scent and smiled. “Oh, they’re so beautiful, thank you.”
Vex took them from her and set them on the table. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the ring box, opening it at the same time as Rage opened his. She gasped, her eyes flitting between the rings. Vex slid his ring out and took her left hand. Poising the ring at her fingertip, he looked into her beautiful face and said the words that had been on his mind since they’d met.
“Angie, I love you. You’re my beloved mate. I want you to be mine and I want to be yours in every way. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes shimmered with tears and she nodded. “Yes! I love you, too.”
He pushed the ring onto her finger and pulled her in for a kiss, wishing they were anywhere but in a restaurant. When their kiss ended, Rage proposed and she accepted, and the trio toasted the next chapter of their lives with champagne and SyBl.
With diamonds glittering on her fingers, they left the restaurant a short while later and climbed into the SUV, reminding Temple to take the scenic route home before they put up the privacy screen.
“I think someone p
romised something to us earlier, brother,” Rage said once the screen was up and guaranteed that the males in the front seat wouldn’t be able to hear anything that happened in the back.
“That’s my understanding as well,” Vex said. “What do you think, beloved?”
She smiled in that way that was half angel and half temptress. “A promise is a promise.”
Vex rested his hand on her bare knee. Angie was kissing Rage, and Vex had a tantalizing view of her cleavage thanks to the lowcut dress. The material was thin enough that he could see she wasn’t wearing a bra, her nipples beading against the black silk and making his mouth water. He’d truly never seen a sexier female in all his life. Giving a gentle tug to her knee, he growled softly as she parted her legs and settled down farther into the seat. The dress slid up her thighs. He dropped to his knees and pushed her legs apart, thrilled that she wasn’t wearing panties. Inhaling deeply, he slid his hands under her thighs and tugged her forward. He lowered his head and swiped his tongue languidly over her slit. She curled her leg over his shoulder, her heel dangling off her foot and then dropping to the floor with a thud.
Using his fingers, he parted her lips to reveal her pearl. He glanced up at her, the dress tugged down to reveal her breasts that Rage was tending to. Her eyes were bright with passion, her lips swollen from kissing. She licked her lips and ran her tongue over the edge of her top teeth with a snarl.
“Vex.” Her voice was breathy, husky. It slid down his back like a caress.
Kissing her clit, he sucked it lightly and then leaned away, grasping her leg and giving it a push, until she twisted and straddled Rage. Vex pushed the dress over her hips and bared her to his hungry gaze. He spread her open and looked his fill, her folds wet and pink. Tilting his head, he savored her, licking and sucking, sliding his tongue into her heat and playing with her clit. She writhed against his mouth, and he felt her draw close to climax. Undoing his belt and slacks, he fisted the base of his cock and continued to drive her wild. A heartbeat before she came, he leaned back and pulled her down onto his lap, impaling her on his hard length.
She cried out as she came around him, reaching back and fisting his hair as he held her tightly until her pussy stopped gripping him like a vise. She kissed him, her tongue dueling with his as he moved her on himself. Then she leaned away from him and undid Rage’s pants, taking him into her mouth. Angie planted her feet and helped Vex as he lifted and lowered her on his cock. He closed his eyes and reveled in the sweet feel of her. Then he slipped his hand around her stomach and rubbed her clit, drawing her body back into pleasure.
She came hard a second time, drawing his pleasure out with hers. As he roared to the limo’s ceiling, Angie bucked against him and cried out both their names, Rage adding his own pleasure-tinged shout to the mix. She leaned back against Vex with a gusty sigh and he kissed her throat, feeling her pulse thrum under his lips.
Tugging the thin straps of her dress up her shoulders, he covered her and gave her a tender hug before he lifted her off his lap and set her on the bench seat.
“I’m the luckiest female on the planet,” Angie said, tugging her dress down her legs and gifting Vex with a brilliant smile.
He and Rage set themselves to rights. Vex joined them on the bench, picking up her hand and kissing her knuckles. “We’re certainly the most fortunate males.”
“Indeed,” Rage said.
“I could use a drink now,” Angie said. “Maybe some water?”
Vex opened the small refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of water. As Angie cracked the top and took a drink, he buzzed Temple. “We’re ready to head home.”
“We’ll be there in about five,” Temple answered.
“I just want to go on record as saying this is the best first date in history,” Angie said. “You guys covered all the bases – limo, flowers, gourmet meal, jewelry, and hot sex.”
Vex was thrilled she was happy with their first date. He’d wanted it to go well, and it had.
The limo turned a corner, and Angie sat up straight and stared out the darkened windows. Her posture was very rigid. He glanced at Rage, who seemed to also notice something was wrong.
“Angie?” Vex asked.
“Tell him to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“The limo.”
Vex pressed the intercom and said, “Pull over here.”
The limo slowed and drew to a stop. Angie leaned over Rage and pressed the button to lower the window a few inches. She sniffed the air and Vex caught the scent of her wolf.
“Beloved?” Rage asked.
“My wolf was suddenly on alert.” She looked at Vex over her shoulder. “Remember that smell I couldn’t place at the factory? It’s here.”
Rage frowned. “The smell is here?”
Dawning hit Vex. “You’re saying the person or people who tampered with the trucks are in line at the club?”
“Yes!”
“Fuck me,” Rage growled.
Vex used the intercom to alert Temple and Ven to the situation while Rage called Brone on his cell phone. Within minutes, they’d exited the SUV and met with Brone and the other family members.
“We’re going to take them into custody,” Brone said. “Angie, can you tell us exactly who it is?”
“I need to get closer.”
“We’ll take you down the sidewalk,” Rage said. “You stay between Vex and me.”
She nodded.
The trio crossed the street, Vex holding one of Angie’s hands as Rage walked on her other side. She paused and took in a shaky breath, and then she let out a soft growl. Her eyes had slipped from blue to amber, and he could see fangs through her parted lips. They walked down the sidewalk, passing the front doors of the club and the bouncers who checked IDs and allowed people to come inside. The line of people was quite long, stretching the length of the building and wrapping around the corner. They were nearly to the end of the building when Angie stopped and inhaled a few times.
She tilted her head and looked at the people in line. Vex followed her line of sight and saw two people who looked nervous. Both were looking at their cell phones. The male was tapping his foot on the sidewalk, and the female was fidgeting, holding a tiny purse on a chain and cracking her neck.
“Them,” Angie said softly. “The blond female and the dark-haired male. They were at the factory. I think it’s her perfume.”
Vex and Rage hustled her away from the sidewalk and back to the SUV, where Rage drove them to the coven’s garage and parked. She was able to watch the family grab the humans so quickly that they were simply a blur as they took them into the club to be interrogated. With a sigh, Angie leaned back against the leather seat and gave Vex’s hand a squeeze.
“Is it still the best first date ever?” he asked, his voice holding a hint of teasing.
“Definitely.” She looked at him and smiled. “The excellent night was topped off by finding the traitors who targeted our people.”
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, which seemed to always make her smile. It was old fashioned, but he and his brother were the definition of the term. Although they wore modern clothes, there were some parts of their personalities steeped in the old ways.
“I adore that you call the vampires our people,” he told her.
“They are. You and Rage are my family, and that means the family is as well. The coven needs to be protected, and if I can help with that, then I’m glad.”
“As long as you’re safe,” Vex said.
“You and Rage will ensure that,” she said, her eyes twinkling.
“Forever,” he said, the single word holding the most solemn vow he’d ever made. He looked at the ring glinting on her finger, and rubbed the diamond lightly with his thumb. “Nothing – and no one – is as precious as you to me, Angie. You’re everything.”
She smiled so sweetly and with such passion flaring in her eyes, that he would have punched Rage square in the mouth for opening the limo door right at
the most inopportune moment in existence.
He held back.
Barely.
“They’ve taken the humans to the War Room for interrogation. Would you like to watch?” Rage asked.
“Really? Yes!”
She cupped Vex’s cheek and brushed her lips over his. “Hold that thought. I want to pick up right where we left off when we’re done here.”
“Whatever my beloved wants,” he promised.
Chapter 17
She and Vex exited the vehicle and walked through the garage and into the club.
“I don’t recall Arissa showing me the War Room. What’s it for?”
“It’s just a fancy name for the largest meeting room in the club,” Vex said. “It has sound-proof walls, so anything discussed inside is guaranteed to be private.”
“No war planning then?” she asked with a smile.
“Well,” Rage said as he reached for the door handle, “Today? Yes and no. We’ll see what these two humans say. We might very well be planning a war.”
Inside the room, the two humans were tied to straight-backed chairs. The female looked young, barely out of high school. Her cheeks were wet with tears but her lips were pressed into a thin line and her eyes were filled with determination. The male stared straight ahead, stonily.
Vex and Rage led Angie to the group, where Brone and the other family members were speaking in hushed tones.
“Try again,” Brone said to Ven.
The male cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, then moved toward the couple. He grasped the male’s head and tilted it until he was staring into Ven’s eyes. Angie couldn’t tell what Ven was doing, but she could feel a surge of power coming from him.
She looked at Vex with her brows raised.
Vex leaned over and whispered in her ear, “He has the power of compulsion.”
Ven snarled and dropped the human male’s head and moved to the female, performing the same actions. After a few minutes, he cursed and stepped away. “They’re blocking me somehow.”