“Thomas wasn’t comfortable with how distant he felt from his constituents in other cities.”
Constituents. What a nice word. Like he was a politician elected for office rather than someone who had killed the other contender for his position.
For a control freak like him, I’m sure it would be hard allowing those in his territory free rein.
Vampire politics tended to be deadly. Living outside the city meant you were far from the halls of power and free to live without your every move being scrutinized. It also held the potential to give the ambitious naughty ideas. The sort that often ended with heads rolling.
I made a noncommittal sound as I scanned the crowd, finding Thomas holding court not far from where we stood.
He was aware of our presence, his silvery gray eyes landing on us in a silent demand that I ignored.
Possessing rare charisma that made him a person you couldn’t help but take notice of despite his average looks, Thomas had dark hair and a stocky build. More often than not, his jawline was covered in stubble. Today, it was smooth.
The expensive suit he wore would have funded a year’s worth of gas for my car. It was worth it, though, considering the excellent fit. You couldn’t buy a suit like that off the rack. That was for sure.
Several clan Patriarchs and Matriarch’s lingered nearby tended by their own sycophants.
Approaching Thomas in this environment was sure to draw their notice. No, thank you.
While I was distracted, a pair of arms slipped around my waist from behind to tug me into a hard chest. A familiar scent wrapped around me. The cold bite of winter in an old growth forest.
A smile tugged at my lips as I twisted to face the man behind me.
“Liam.”
His name on my tongue felt like a benediction. An invocation that laid my secrets bare.
If I had a weakness, it was this man. This vampire.
He had a face that made me want to sin. With cheekbones that could cut glass and soft lips perfect for kissing.
Turned in his early thirties, his features contained a maturity that added to his charm.
It was his eyes, though, that set him apart. A deep, electric blue like that of an endless summer sky. I could get lost staring into those eyes. Especially when he was looking at me the way he was right now. With a carnal edge that said he was just dying to gobble me up.
My breath shortened at the thought. I was tempted beyond words to let him do exactly that.
It wouldn’t be the first time.
“Mo chuisle,in that dress, you take my breath away,” he purred.
I took a moment to let my eyes trail down his body, my admiration for his outfit showing on my face. Like Connor, he wore a slim cut suit that was exquisitely tailored for his form.
Dashing wasn’t a word I used often, but it fit in this case.
“I could say the same,” I murmured.
A devilish smile tilted his mouth as his eyes grew half lidded with desire.
Oh boy. It was hard to resist when he looked at me like that.
His gaze dropped to the necklace around my neck. “He gave you her necklace. He said he would. I’m glad.”
My response stalled as I became aware of how close Connor was standing to us. Just staring. His clear lack of understanding of personal space made me drop my head onto Liam’s chest.
A warm rumble came from Liam as he closed his arms around me and dropped a kiss on my head. “Later,mo chuisle.”
With a sigh, I pushed away from him to regard my troublesome vampire brother with a vexed look.
