He looks sincere, but still Raven’s warning rings through my head. I arch an eyebrow at the arrogant lord. “Don’t be too sure of yourself.”
The tall blonde skank returns, setting the drinks in front of us and spinning on a spiky heel without saying a word to us at all. I watch her sway across the room and stop at a table where a bunch of males are gathered. Maybe she can find someone suitable at that table.Lousy skank.
Corvinus smirks. “Be nice.”
“Why? Look around. All the employees are wearing black slacks or a skirt, a white shirt, and a red suit jacket with the Club Descallia emblem on the right lapel up here, and she’s walking around tits up?”
He looks around the room at the men and women gathered around tables and waitresses wearing short skirts, skimpy tops, and high heels, serving them drinks. But I’m right, not one of them is bare. “She typically works downstairs. Maybe she was covering for someone. Who knows.”
I arch an eyebrow. “Or heard that the handsome Dark Lord Corvinus was in the club?”
Corvinus takes another drink. “Either way, Chelise means nothing to me. I’m here with you and she’s in my past. So be nice, and let’s enjoy our night.”
I take a small sip of the Descallia Red, letting it calm my blood and sooth my ire. “Only for you, vampire.”
He looks around. “The decorator did a great job with the place don’t you think?”
It’s hard not to agree. My arms spread, gesturing around the room and dancefloor. “It does look great, Corvinus. There are a lot of Club Descallias now, right?”
“More than I can keep track of some days. I have to say, this one, it’s one of the most exclusive in North America, besides the one in Vegas.”
He takes my hand. “Bring your drink. Romano and Raven can find us when they’re done fooling around. Knowing those two they’re already in a private room. I want to show you the remodeled lower levels.”
I take his extended hand as we head down the stairs. “The Vegas club was such a success that we needed to expand across the states and abroad. This one has not been open for that long and by the looks of the customer base we’re going to need to expand in this city sooner than later.”
Corvinus grasps my elbow as we take the last step onto the sleek black and red swirled marble floors. I gaze in awe at the golden Descallia crest across the top of the bar. “Lucianna and I actually met in the original one in Las Vegas. The first one of its kind was called the Pleasure Haven. Only the most elite were allowed to enter and you better believe it was a hefty sum of cash that got them in the door. Now the names are all the same, it’s Club Descallia, no matter which level you’re in.”
“I knew about the clubs but not how you two met.” He escorts me in between the small tables, each draped with an ornate red or black tablecloth and decorated with a glass vase, sparkling with gold and a dripping red blood design, until we reach one that has a black placard with his name in gold embossed lettering. He holds my chair out and waits until I’m situated before taking a seat of his own.
I take a small sip of the Descallia Red, my eyes darting around. I can’t help looking for the voluptuous skank.
Corvinus puts a finger underneath my chin and turns me to face him. “I sent a message and had her given the night off. I told you she’s not a problem.”
“You did that for me? Because I’m a jealous twat?”
He laughs and leans in close. “You’re the only one I want to see topless, now drink your beverage. I’m getting anxious to have my evil way with you.”
The music overhead starts playing a slow and seductive sound. “I started out as a topless waitress at Club Descallia in Vegas. I actually showed Lucianna the ropes when she first was introduced to the club and to Overmaster Descallia. Do you know she was a police officer when she first met Descallia?”
Corvinus widens his eyes. “I think everyone in the vampire world has heard the story of their tumultuous affair, but I didn’t realize that you were that close. Nor about your work there. I knew that you and Lucianna were good friends, it was not a secret. Obviously, the vampire masters knew and some of the dark lords also, including myself, but not that you knew her actual history.”
I nod. “She was a class act right from the start and what I loved about her, she didn’t take any shit from anyone, not even him. I swear it was the greatest entertainment watching a mere mortal giving it right back to the fearless overmaster of all the purebloods across the globe. Especially at one of the Club Descallia clubs. You should have seen the steam between those two!”
His dark eyes widen. “The wealthiest vampires and humans come from all over the globe to play but only the elite are allowed entry. The Club Descallia girls are different from many of the clubs across the world. I’m surprised they let Lucianna in, you know, given her past.”
“She was on a mission, and I think the two thought they could help each other, and it turned out they were right. But you should have seen her face when I told her that if they got really short staffed, they would dress her up in a little thong and pasty set and send her down to get her ass spanked by the rich boys using their implements of choice.”
His wide smile causes butterflies to dance in my stomach and damn it I am not that type of girl. I try to conceal my desire for the dark lord, but I have no doubt he knows exactly what I’m thinking right about now. I take another small sip of my drink. “I told her I was joking and if the club ever got too short, we’d pull from the dancers who were used to having their clothes off, but her cheeks were still flaming red. I ended up giving her the nickname prude girl.”
Romano escorts a pink-cheeked Raven from the rooms at the back, and to our table when he sees us. They get situated and my little witchy friend tries to avoid my gaze as Romano gestures to a passing waitress. She’s not getting away with that though. I kick her under the table and she almost chokes on her sip of wine, giving me a set of big wide eyes.I know what you were up to witchy girl.
Corvinus glances at Raven and Romano. “If you you’ll excuse us, Embry owes me a dance.” He stands, adjusts his suit, and extends a hand. I let him guide me to the dance floor with a hand to my lower back, swallowing through a sea of emotion as he takes me in his arms.
His hand finds its way underneath my hair, to the sensitive skin of my nape. He leans down and whispers. “One dance, and then I plan to have you on your knees.”
19
CORVINUS
