Once Lucius washes his hands,he leaves us alone in the office suite. Eilidh returns from the bathroom and looks a little abashed.
“Sorry,” she mumbles.
“Why are you apologizing? That was…I’veneverseen anything like that. That wasincredible.”
Her tight, nervous smile makes me want to lean in and kiss her, but I resist. “Like I said, Mom was a badass.” She looks up at me through her lashes, the closest expression to vulnerability I think I’ve seen her show yet. “I didn’t…freak you out?”
I open my arms to her, offering a hug and pleasantly surprised when she steps in and wraps her arms around me. I’m careful not to grind on her—you have no idea how difficult that restraint is—and gently close my embrace, letting her dictate how long.
Then she presses herself against me, her warmth along the length of my body, and I know she has to be feeling how aroused I am.
We stand there for a long moment, with me deeply inhaling her scent. She feels perfect pressed against me. Then she tips her head back, her gaze searching my face.
“No, I’m not freaked out.” I smile. “I’m turned on. As if you couldn’t tell.”
Her hesitant smile in return fills with confidence, but she doesn’t move to step away, so I hold still, drinking in her sweet warmth. When was the last time I really hugged someone?
I can’t even remember. “Do you have to intervene often?”
“Not like that. Not with vampires. Humans, yeah. When I’m handy, the guys will frequently let me throw a scare into the human instead of mojoing them, just to prove a point, and because it amuses them.”
She shrugs, like it’s no big deal that sheliterallytook down a vampire, by herself. “Usually, the guys are on it when it comes to the vamps, but I just happened to see him and realized exactly what he was up to. Guy’s fucking dangerous. He’s not careful. He’s only been a vampire for a couple of years. Really poor impulse control.”
Fuck, I could stand here all night doing nothing but holding her like this, and it’d still rank up there in one of my top memories. “What happened to his sire? Nestmates?”
“Dead. Territory war this guy wasn’t a part of. Lucius felt sorry for him and let him pledge his loyalty.” She stares at her hands. “Bet he thinks twice before doing that again. If he even makes it back from the desert.”
“The pencil thing was brilliant.”
“Mini-stake. Has to be a real wooden pencil, though.” She grins. “First vampire I worked for taught me that. Guy owned a bar in Toronto. Told me to always keep at least one tucked behind my ear, or in my hair, a few in my apron, back pocket. No one notices them until it’s snapped off inside their chest. Right side to send a message, left to stake.” With her right index finger, she barely touches my chest. “Right there, or through the side, or back. Depending on the circumstance and what they’re wearing. In a pinch, through the neck to distract them, then a second to the left chest.”
“Avampiretaught you that trick? Seriously?”
She shrugs, like it’s no big deal. “He was cool. He liked that I couldn’t be controlled. Put me in charge of afternoon and early evening shifts, so he could stay open longer.”
“Wow.” She’s a treasure of amazing experiences.
“Soooo.” She sucks air through her teeth as she plays with the buttons on my shirt. “How wasthatfor a first date?”
Laughing feelssodamned good. The things this woman does to me. “I think we’re still on it. I mean, I hope we are. And it’s been brilliant.”
“I wouldn’t mind talking some more. If you’d like to. Or, I’m open to suggestions.”
Of course, I won’t ask her to go downstairs to the dungeon, even though I really want to. I could tell from the way her scent changed earlier that my honesty about some of what I wanted to do to her aroused her. Notes of honey and apricot sprang up in her scent, strongly present in a way they usually aren’t.
I wonder if that’s the same luscious scent I would smell if I have my face buried between her gorgeous thighs while I lap up every drop of her juices.
It’s a question I can’t wait to answer for myself. Which is why I want her consent—so I know she’s really into it because shewantsto be, not because I’ve forced her to.
Thisis the kind of hunt I truly enjoy—an honest pursuit, winning someone over, earning their trust. Any lazy asshole can compel someone to spread their legs.
Iwantto work for it. “Well, if we’re being completely honest, then I’m curious to know what it isyou’dlike to do right now.”
I love her adorable surprise at my answer. “Really?”
I nod. “Yes. Total freebie.”
“AnythingI want?”
