“Oh, I know it would only be to talk. Because if you tried something, I’d scream, and Lucius or one of his men would part your head from your shoulders before I even shut my mouth, if I didn’t stake you myself first.” She delivers that in a bright, playful tone, which chills me all the more but also makes my mouth water.
I hold up my hands. “Only to talk. I’ll pay just to talk with you.”
She pretends to evaluate me, but I can already tell I’ve walked into whatever trap this is.
Shockingly enough, I don’t want to free myself.
“You want to put money on it? A little wager?”
I lean in, half over the bar. “Anything.”
“Got a hundred on you?”
My wallet’s already in my hand, and I withdraw not one but five hundred-dollar bills and hold them up. “There.” If that’s all it’ll take, I’ll give her my whole damn wallet.
She stares at them for a moment because, apparently, I’ve gone off-script.
“Oookaaaay.” Her violet gaze meets mine again, and I feel…something.
My full, achingly hard cock throbs, demanding to be buried inside her.
She grabs one of the serving trays and props it sideways on the bar, to her right, so it blocks us from the view of other patrons. The wall is to her left. It unnerves me in good ways that she looks me in the eyes as she speaks, and yet I’m helpless to compel her.
“Let’s play a game. Here’s the rules: My real name’s on the back of my name tag. I’ll show you, and you get onlyoneattempt to pronounce it correctly. You’ll say it softly, so no one else can hear. You donotreveal to anyone what it says, win or lose. I win?KA-ching. You win? I’ll go downstairs with you,onlyto talk.Nothingelse. You alsoneverget another chance to play this game.”
“Do it.”
Her right hand covers her name tag. “You sure?”
I nod.
I can already tell no one has ever won this game, even before I hear Lucius speak just behind me. “I do solovethis game.”
“Ready?” she asks.
I’m trying not to drool as I imagine how the glass of her blood tasted last night, I nod.
She leans closer, a victorious smile already curling those gorgeous lips of hers as she tugs on her name tag and flips it over, so I can read the back. I only glance away from her beautiful violet eyes just long enough to read the word written there in black marker.
Eilidh
Victory makesme want to cackle with glee, but I maintain my composure.
Maybe I’m not as ready to meet the sunrise as I thought.
“Hello, AY-lee,” I whisper. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
I smile as her eyes go wide and her jaw drops open. Behind me, Lucius roars with laughter and slaps me between the shoulder blades.
6
Eilidh
Motherfucker.
Stunned, I stand there ready to lambaste Lucius, fricking vampire king or not, for telling the guy the answer.
Lucius holds up his hand. “I didn’t tell him. I swear. Neither did Selene.”
