“Laila.”
Her gaze jerked away from the computer screen. Her eyes were already dilated, her aura pulsing with need.
“I am fine,” she insisted.
“Come here.”
She rose immediately and crossed the room. He motioned for her to kneel. She did so, pulling her hair to the side to reveal her slender throat.
He did not want her blood, and he did not want the intimacy of the neck. He held out his wrist, a rejection of her offer.
She tried to hide her disappointment. It was brief anyway because she wanted—needed—the power running through his veins. She took his arm and bit. The pain was barely noticeable, and his blood flowed freely, passing Laila’s lips, nourishing the magic in her body. The bond between them strengthened. He had not changed Laila into a vampire, but a year ago, he had destroyed the connection between her and her previous master. She was part of his clan now, and he should have cemented their bond months ago.
He smoothed back her hair and watched her face flush with life. He was so focused on her pleasure, her need, that he did not feel Nora’s presence until the office door slammed open.
Laila spun and started to rise. Jared locked a hand on her shoulder and kept her on her knees.
Nora’s entry slowed. Stopped. She focused on the vampire at Jared’s feet, and something flared in her aura. Was it jealousy?
Or curiosity?
He held Nora’s gaze and offered his arm to Laila again. She licked at the blood trickling toward his wrist, then fastened her mouth over the wound, pulling hard to keep it open.
Nora’s nostrils flared. Gold rimmed her irises. She took a half step forward, stopped, then with more confidence, her long strides ate the distance between them.
“Get out,” Nora ordered.
Laila stopped feeding but made no move to follow Nora’s command. Jared’s blood strengthened her now. She could resist Nora’s dominance, easy.
“You are interrupting,” he said smoothly.
Nora’s chest rose and fell with her breaths, a sign she was struggling to contain a storm of violence.
He focused on her aura again. It was not a visible thing; rather, it was a feeling that saturated the air around her, a feeling that clearly signaled she was furious and had been for quite some time.
Interesting.
He released Laila’s shoulder and gave her a mental nudge to go. He felt her reluctance as she rose and met Nora’s gaze.
That could have been a mistake. A wolf with less control would have attacked. Nora looked on the edge of it. Even when Laila finally exited the room, that edge did not dull.
“Your invitation is revoked,” he said.
“What?” Nora snapped.
He stood. “I no longer permit you to enter my territory.”
Her aura steadied. Her focus zeroed in on him. “I didn’t ask for permission.”
“You need it.”
“You…” She drew in a deep breath, released it. “You’re upset I didn’t come here sooner.”
“I do not get upset.”
“You’re not used to women refusing you. You’re used to them kneeling at your feet.” She made a gesture toward the door Laila had exited.
He stepped forward. “I am not opposed to women at my feet.”
