“Done. Take it off-tap tonight. Immediately. Except for me.”
“And how do you plan on storing it?”
“As soon as my apartment is ready here, I’ll be in touch.”
He tips his head to me. “Very well.”
“Oh, I will need to borrow some implements and rope.”
He points to a closet. “You should find everything in there that you’ll likely need.”
“Thanks.”
We return to the dungeon, where the scent of human arousal and blood are much stronger down here, to the point I can’t help the way my mouth sharply waters. I follow him over to the bar, where he speaks to the bartender. The man nods and glances my way.
Lucius smiles at me. “Would you like a glass of your particular vintage now?”
“Yes,” I practically growl.
Once I have a glass, and Lucius has a glass of red wine, we walk over to the thrones, where Selene is currently perched and watching a knife play scene. It’s just for sensation, not cutting, but the male bottom smells thick of subspace and need as the male vampire traces intricate Celtic designs across his back.
It triggers…something in my brain, a memory that teases close to the surface before diving away again.
“Dexter?” Lucius asks.
I pull my thoughts to the present. “Nothing. I have a puzzle I’m working on and haven’t untangled yet.”
“Her ring?”
I glare at him. “What do you know of it?”
“That it feels like I should know what it says, and I do not, and it irritates me.” He sips his wine. “I think it’s a clue to her…issue.”
“We’re in agreement.” I want to go up to the nightclub, but I know if I do, I’ll be at risk of causing a scene. The last thing I wish to do is interfere with her working.
I mean, since I haven’t convinced her to let me totally take care of her yet. Once I do, she will not have to sling drinks for humans and vampires.
She will rule my empire beside me, and she’ll never want for anything again in her life.
25
Dexter
Lucius hasa chair brought over for me to sit on the platform with him and Selene, and we talk. Maybe an hour after our arrival at the club, Eilidh makes her way downstairs.
As soon as the door from the stairwell opens, I know she is there.
I sense her energy, her presence.
When I turn, her gaze immediately meets mine. Every human escorted down here tonight since my arrival, and many of the household humans, have eyed me with longing invitations in their gazes, and I’ve ignored all of them, save the server who brought me another glass of my now private vintage.
I feel borderline drunk and wonder if this is what it’ll feel like when I feed from her. I’ve had more blood tonight than I have in a while, but I feel like I could drink her taste forever and never fully satiate my thirst.
I climb down from the platform when she walks over. Then I pull her into my arms and kiss her, leaving no doubts to anyone who she belongs to. Or who I belong to, either. I grab her ass and pull her hips against mine, letting her feel how ready I am for her.
“Staying out of trouble?” she breathlessly teases once I finally end our kiss.
“Of course. Just waiting for you to finish so we can play.” With my bulge notched between her thighs, I grind against her again and love the way she bites down on her lower lip.
