“My name. Echo.”
It suited her perfectly. “A very unusual name. Wasn’t Echo a nymph in Greek mythology who withered away from unrequited love until all that was left was her voice?”
Her smile died, her expression neutral. Annoyingly so. “You know your mythology. Impressive for a rock star.”
“Contrary to popular belief, many of us do know how to read,” he teased.
Echo’s lips curled at the corners. What he wouldn’t give to see her really smile. Or laugh. Elijah sensed she hadn’t laughed in a while. For having only met the vampire, that didn’t sit right with him at all. She should have many reasons to laugh.
“Apologies for presuming.”
“No apology necessary. So … Echo.” He leaned into her. “Can I buy you a drink?”
Her gaze fell to his neck, and she licked her lips.
The mere thought of her biting him sent a sharp blade of lust through his groin, surprising the hell out of him.
As if she could read his mind, her nostrils flared, shock lighting her gorgeous eyes. She swallowed hard and looked away. “Sure.” She didn’t speak loudly to be heard over the music, knowing he could hear her just fine. “House red.”
“Was that innuendo?” he teased.
Her gaze flew back to him. “No, I didn’t mean …” She trailed off at his laughing expression and rolled her eyes. “You’re kidding. Right.”
Laughing, Elijah tapped the bar top to get the server’s attention and ordered a red wine and another ale.
He sensed her attention on him and liked it. Elijah turned to lock gazes again. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Do you really want to know? Or do you think you’re obliged to ask so I’ll fuck you tonight?”
Chuckling at her bluntness, excitement flooded Elijah’s veins. “You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“I’m not really the kind of girl who likes to be a bush among many.”
He grinned harder. “Is that how you think we rock stars work? Fucking our way across the world?”
“Absolutely. Would you deny it?”
“No,” he replied honestly.
She lowered her eyes, hiding her expression from him, and he hated the loss of connection. Far more strongly than he should for having just met her. What was it about her? It couldn’t be the vampire thing.
Since walking through the golden gates of the rich and famous to enter their elite world, he’d discovered he wasn’t so different after all. Vampires and werewolves and witches and warlocks were real, as were other supernatural beasties. But the former were the ones at the top of the food chain, vampires at the very top since they were immortal. He’d partied with them before. Never had sex with one. His instincts, until now, had warned him not to. Same with werewolves. He’d steered clear despite their many attractions.
He had fucked a witch or two in the past, though.
“I saw that girl faint at the concert tonight,” Echo continued. “Is that what you expect? For women … and maybe men too … to swoon at your feet?”
“Just women,” he clarified. “And no, I don’t expect that. Not at all.”
“Oh dear. Is the poor little rock star growing weary of the adoration?”
Elijah found himself amused. “What if I am?”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You know … it’s weird, but until this very moment, I wasn’t weary of it. But I find your utter lack of deference strangely erotic.”
To his delight, Echo laughed. It was a low, husky sound that heated his blood. He had to stop himself from reaching for her. He wanted to wrap his hand around her nape and claim her with a kiss that would rock both their bloody worlds.
