by Talyn Scott
Drake pivoted on his heels to find Evan behind them, his dark hair nearly identical to Drake’s though his eyes shone bottomless black. Instead of answering Evan, his lips widened into a cat’s smile. “Why couldn’t she get you by phone or email?”
Evan’s eyes burned through her. “Were you trying to get me, Ms Lange?”
Vania stepped forward, wondering if he was toying with her. She’d tried in vain since the clock struck six to contact Evan, only to be stuck coming to the club instead of sinking into her bathtub and soaking off the day. “Mr. Easton,” she said professionally, ignoring what she really wanted to say, “I have documents for you to sign that Mr. Avery Easton needs before midnight.”
Drake’s shoulders tightened. “So your work isn’t over even when you leave here tonight?”
Oh, his eyes, she could melt in them. In fact, she felt a dampness between her legs that certainly qualified as melting on the spot. “No.”
“Have you eaten?” Evan inquired, his eyebrows slamming down over his eyes.
“Breakfast.” She took a step back, lifting her satchel. “Just… I need these signed.”
Evan signaled to a man in a dark suit who wore an earpiece. “Have dinner for three delivered to my apartment within fifteen minutes.” He turned back and gripped her elbow, much the way Drake had only moments earlier. “Do you have your laptop with you?”
“It’s in my car.”
Evan led her to a private elevator, only releasing her to swipe his card key though the slot. “You’ll use mine.”
“I don’t need anything but — ”
“You do need.” Drake entered the elevator beside them, punching in a six-digit code that spiraled them high over Club Saturday. “Therefore, you’re getting our help whether you like it or not. And you’re going to eat, by the way, even if we must feed you every bite.”
Vania opened and then closed her mouth, unknowing what to say. So she leaned her forehead against the one-way glass, watching as dancers played across the pulsating dance floor, lifting their lips to brilliant blue concoctions while entwining their bodies around one another like vines to a tree. She wondered what it would feel like to have Drake’s hands all over her, to climax as he fucked her furiously the way he’d had in her dream. But she reminded herself that would never happen, even if he offered miraculously to fulfill each of her fantasies. Men like Drake ate girls like her for breakfast, right before they walked away after just one night.
And her heart could never take that kind of pain, not again.
“What are you thinking?” Evan murmured quietly, his breath tickling her nape.
She couldn’t stop her shiver as the hair escaping her tight bun swirled around her neck. “About getting these papers to Avery on time,” Vania lied.
Drake moved in closer, surrounding her completely on the other side, both of them crowding her as the elevator came to a stop. His hand shot out to stop the doors from opening. “What happened to your stockings?”
Her stomach clenched, the combined heat of Drake and Evan spurring on a hunger that had nothing to do with food. “Snagged them.”
Evan dipped low, touching the bare flesh exposed by the run in her stockings, following it higher and higher until his fingers slipped just beneath the hem of her gray pencil skirt. “You’re trembling.”
Drake’s lips found her ear, his whispered words shocking her so much that she dropped her satchel, spilling its contents on the elevator floor.
Sage (Sanibel Immortals Book 2) Excerpt
Sage tugged her inside the bathroom, his sheer size swallowing all available space within the tight confines. He glanced around at the gray cabinets and white tile, inhaling deeply while cocking his head as though concentrating on something far away. “We should be okay here for the night. Only humans are near,” he explained, refocusing on her. Those brilliant eyes moved up and down her body, not leering but contemplating. “Get cleaned up.”
Maybe she shouldn’t ask but… “What are you thinking?”
“I’ll let you know when it’s worth sharing.”
“We’re not out of the woods by a long shot, are we?” Scarlett uncurled her hands from her front pockets and grimaced at the sight of dried blood beneath her fingernails.
“Let me worry about it.”
“That’s it? All you have to say is let you worry about it? I’m not some — ”
“You are a fraction of what I am.” He held up his hand, flexing his pinky. “About this much.”
“That doesn’t mean — ”
“It means enough,” Sage cut her off, his eyes narrowing to dangerous slits. “Tell me, sweet Scarlett. Do you have the strength to kill a creature of the night?”
Her stomach flipped as she recalled her circumstances during the previous hour. “I think you know the answer to that.”
“Let’s get something clear, then. Neither of us wants you to become a victim.” He shook his head. “In my world, you have one choice: master or slave. And if you let someone choose for you, you’ll be a slave every damn time.”
“If I let someone else fight for me, I’m already a slave.”
He knew exactly what she meant. “You owe me nothing.”
“You saved my life.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “That means something.”
“It means everything, so how could you ever repay me of its worth?”
“I can’t.”
He smiled, satisfied.
A desperate sound left her throat before Scarlett could stop it. What was going to happen to her tomorrow, or the next day — or the day after that? “When the sun comes up, do you disappear inside a coffin somewhere?”
He lifted his hand to touch her, but dropped it in blurring speed. “When the sun comes up, I will be next to you.”
All she could do was nod. For however long Sage was next to her, she would live. “Thank you.”
“Anytime and always.”
Scarlett reached down with shaky hands to turn on the faucet. She gasped when water rushed suddenly from the shower head before her fingertips touched the knob. She jumped back with a yelp and gaped at Sage. “You did that?”
“Yes.”
She blinked. “Think, uh, you can act a little more… human?”
“You weren’t complaining an hour ago.”
“You’re right.”
He winced when even he heard the snarl edging his words. “I’m sorry.” Sage put a hand on her shoulder, and she sensed static power thrumming beneath his skin. “Kind of hard to shift it down for you when I’m …”
“The blood,” she realized, he’d skipped out on a potential buffet to get her to safety. And the fuel he needed was caked all over her body. “You need to eat,” Scarlett whispered in horrified awe. She was probably enticing him all this time.
Her heart kicked up as she faced the mirror — ignoring his beautifully monstrous reflection — and picked up a tiny bar of soap. When she started peeling off the wrapper, Sage pulled his hand away, but leaned until his forehead met the back of her head. She didn’t know what to think about the sudden intimacy, so she took a deep breath, wondering about this mythical creature that wasn’t mythical after all. “I can’t believe you’re a vampire, and I’m standing here covered in blood.”
“I know.”
She nearly dropped the soap, while reminding herself that if Sage wanted to feed from her, he would have done so already. Well, maybe… “How often do you need blood?”
“Every day.” He rubbed his forehead back and forth on the top of her head, smelling her. “I scent your fear.”
“Seriously, did you expect anything else?”
Sage pressed his cheek against hers and searched her face in the mirror, studying Scarlett the way men do. Seeming to relax at what he found, he stepped into the hallway and gave her his back. “The door stays open.”
“I won’t argue that one.” After stripping quickly, Scarlett stepped into the shower with soap and a washcloth in hand, scrubbing everything but her
bitten throat. When the water finally ran clear, she leaned in and lowered the intensity of the spray, before tilting her chin and allowing the water to lap at her throat. Instantly, she could smell the copper penny scent of her blood as it sluiced over her skin.
“Soap,” Sage hissed. “Use the damn soap on your throat. And hurry.”
She stiffened, her heart thundering. “Is someone coming?”
“No.” A fist hit the wall. “Fuck it all, you smell so damn good.”
She felt her mouth fall open. “You are kidding, right?”
“Sure… I’m kidding.”
Scarlett noted the strain in his voice as she lathered up her throat and… Her hands smoothed over her skin while something luscious stroked her body deep inside. They dropped lower, until she reached her breasts. Wondering at how they were instantly throbbing, Scarlett squeezed and plumped them, closing her eyes as she did so. And that’s when she noticed an empty ache growing right between her legs. “Sage,” she groaned, lowering her hands past her navel, spreading her fingers wide across her stomach.
“I’m here.” His shadow grew as he neared the curtain, the top of his head looming over the shower rod, but he didn't pull it back. Instead, he demanded, “Tell me what you want.”
“What I…” Horrified, she stared at her hands, amazed at what she was about to do with him right next to her — this stranger, this vampire. “What I,” she said after clearing her throat, “need is a towel.”
Scarlett shut off the water and slid out her hand, wiggling her fingers. Without a word, he handed her a towel and she wrapped it around her suddenly trembling body. When she pulled back the curtain, Sage’s hands startled her as he wrapped them around her waist and lifted her atop the vanity. He settled between her open thighs and started running his fingers through her wet hair.
“Do you want to know what I smell from you now?” he asked silkily.
“Nope.” Scarlett had a good idea, so she tried to squeeze her knees but only managed to draw him closer against her heat. His leather clad thighs slid between her naked ones, stirring her ache. She placed her hands flat against his chest, curling her fingertips against his golden skin. “Why does my body hum for you?”
“So tell her, Sage,” a man’s disembodied voice demanded as a second set of hands ghosted over her back. “Why would Scarlett’s body hum for you?”
Titles by Talyn Scott
Sarasota Sin Series
Sarasota Sin Series Vol 1-3
Upcoming: Club Saturday
Sanibel Immortal Series:
Oycher Book 1
Upcoming Sage Book 2
Panther Crossing Series
Upcoming Panther Crossing Book 1
Fanged Romance Ménage Novels in reading order:
Sanibel Heat
Sanibel Burn
Sanibel Sizzle
Sanibel Seduction
Sanibel Surrender
Sanibel Alpha
Sanibel Virgin
Sanibel Fire
Six Feet Under Novels in reading order:
Captiva Captive
Captiva Craving (Ménage)
Captiva Capitulation (Ménage)
Captiva Master (Ménage)
Author Contact and Notify Me
www.talynscott.com