“I can’t wait,” he breathes into my ear.
Dear lord! I’m far too strapped into corsetry for this sort of heat to be rolling from me.
The car pulls up outside the National Gallery. The huge, imposing building is lit up to showcase its splendor.
Dominik groans, shifting his position so I can see how much I’m affecting him. “Not yet.”
“Too late!” I laugh as the door is opened for me, and I climb out.
The place is thronging with vampires exiting their vehicles in a similar manner. It would appear no one wants to arrive by bat when they can put on a show. Dominik is at my elbow as I hesitate.
“You are covered in my scent, little dove. No one is going to risk coming close enough to you to determine if you are human or not.”
“I’m glad you have such confidence,” I respond. “I feel like I’m about to walk into the lion’s den.”
“Pretend you’re doing Van Helsing work,” Dominik says. “You’re used to walking into vampire nests, after all.”
“I had a stake or two up my sleeve in those situations,” I murmur back as he guides me onto the red carpet and the vampires around us part to allow our progress. “I couldn’t fit one in this dress, and believe me, I tried.”
Is that a snort of laughter I hear from my stoic vamp?
His arm winds around my waist, and I find myself pulled against his hard, muscular body, the scent of his cologne filling my nostrils, spice and leather.
“I think everyone would know what you are if you attempted to hide a stake inthisdress,” he murmurs, brushing his lips over mine, his finger and thumb holding my chin, tilting my face up to his.
“I think you like it more than you want to let on.” I press myself closer, feeling the hardness in his pants.
“You have no fucking idea, little dove. I want to do things to you, here and now.Terrible things,”he says, his voice hoarse.
“Oh dear, and we have a reception to go to as well.” I put my finger on my cheek. “What a shame.”
“You do know you’re going to pay for all your sass, Mistress Lucy,” Dominik says, his eyes sparkling like the crystals on my dress.
“I’m counting on it.” I pull away from him, keeping hold of his hand, maintaining the connection I know he craves. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be the king, and I wouldn’t be the consort.”
Despite the onlookers who are thoroughly enjoying the show, Dominik makes a deal of adjusting himself and pulls me to his side.
“Are you ready to enter the monster’s den?” he asks.
“Won’t be the first and it certainly won’t be the last,” I say as he links his arm in mine, and we make our way up the red carpet, through the impressive doorway, and into the gallery.
The beauty of the place takes away any further cheeky asides I might have made. It is incredible inside, and the place is filled with not just vampires, but other monsters too. I spot the gargoyle who was a part of Ferenc’s party and instantly want to hide, but he’s not looking my way, thankfully, as Dominik guides me through the crowd into another beautiful room filled with artwork.
A waiter walks past with a tray filled with golden goblets. He offers one to Dominik who shakes his head, and I follow suit, attempting to appear as haughty about it as possible.
I mean, after all, what vampire consort would drink justanyblood?
And deep in my soul, I am glad Dominik refused too. As much as him feeding from me is still an interesting personal conflict, I’d hardly like him to be taking his sustenance elsewhere.
For as much as Dominik thinks I belong to him, the more time goes on, the more I’m starting to believe he belongs to me too.
Providing my uncle and Monster Force don’t find me, maybe, just maybe, this is going to work out.
Dominik
As always,my guards are spread out around the gallery. The knowledge Damek has decided to continue to meddle in my affairs is not welcome at all, and I was on the cusp of telling Lucy we would not attend tonight’s opening when I saw her inthat dress.
With her by my side, I feel all the eyes on my consort and rightly so. She is the most beautiful creature in the room, and it is a room filled with the great and good of monster society here in Budapest. It should be. I spent enough money both on the refurbishment and on this gala.
